Ex-Libris 
FRANKEARLEHAYVvftRD 


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936 
to  187 


GENERAL  HISTORY 


OF 


DUCHESS     COUNTY 


FROM 


1609    TO    1876,  INCLUSIVE 


ILLUSTRATED  WITH 

NUMEROUS    WOOD-CUTS,  MAPS  AND  FULL 
PAGE  ENGRAVINGS. 


By  PHILIP  H.  SMITH 


PAWLING,  N.   Y.  : 

PUBLISHED  BY  THE  AUTHOR. 

1877. 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  tlie  year  1877,  by 

PHILIP  II.  SMITH, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  D.  C. 


DKLACET  «fc  WALSH,  Printers,  Amenia,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE. 


HISTORY  of  DUCHESS  COUNTY,  one  of  the  wealthiest, 
most  intelligent,  and  most  abundant  in  historical  mate 
rials  of  all  the  shires  of  the  State  of  New  York,  has 
never  before  been  written.  A  large  proportion  of  her 
sister  counties  have  had  their  historians.  Putnam,  form 
erly  part  of  DUCHESS,  Orange,  Ulster,  and  Litchfield  in  Con 
necticut,  have  each  been  made  the  subject  of  a  volume  of  his 
tory,  in  which  the  eminent  deeds  of  her  children  have  been 
recorded  for  the  instruction  and  entertainment  of  cotempora- 
ries  and  posterity.  Whether  the  present  volume  will  supply 
the  deficiency  remains  for  a  discerning  public  to  determine. 

In  behalf  of  his  efforts  the  author  would  state  that  all  his 
spare  moments  have  been  devoted  to  this  object  for  a  period 
of  nearly  three  years.  During  this  time  he  has  traveled 
through  each  town,  visiting  places  of  interest,  and  noting  down 
the  more  important  matters  that  came  in  his  way ;  copying  old 
records,  and  questioning  the  oldest  inhabitants  in  relation  to 
the  early  history  of  the  localities. 

He  has  also  made  free  use  of  such  authorities  at  hand  as 
would  aid  him  in  the  work.  He  has  aimed  to  avoid  burdening 
the  pages  in  the  body  of  the  book  with  unnecessary  references, 
wrhich,  while  they  may  lend  the  appearance  of  authenticity  to 
the  volume,  serve  but  to  confuse  the  general  reader.  He 
would,  however,  acknowledge  the  following  as  having  been  of 


8  PREFACE. 

great  assistance,  and  trusts  this  acknowledgment  will  be 
sufficient:  "  History  of  Amenia,"  by  Newton  Reed;  "Blake's 
History  of  Putnam  County;"  Bailey's  and  Brinckerhoff's 
works  on  Fishkill ;  "  The  Hudson,  from  the  Wilderness  to  the 
Sea,"  "  The  Pictorial  History  of  the  Revolution,"  and  other 
works  and  papers  bv  Lossing;  "  Bolton's  History  of  Westches 
ter ;"  "O'Callaghan's  History  of  New  Netherlands  ;"  "  Dunlap's 
History  of  New  York  ;"  "  New  York  Historical  Collections  ;" 
SpafTord's,  Disturnell's,  French's,  and  Smith's  Gazetteers ; 
"  Moulton's  History  of  New  York  ;"  and  other  sources  space 
would  fail  us  to  mention. 

In  the  portion  devoted  to  the  history  of  the  churches  of 
the  county,  the  effort  has  been  made  to  deal  impartially  with 
all  denominations.  If  more  space  has  been  given  to  one 
society  than  another,  it  is  because  the  facts  connected  there 
with  have  been  preserved  with  more  care,  and  made  more  easy 
of  reference.  A  word  in  relation  to  the  wood-cuts  which  are 
embodied  in  the  work.  The  sketches  were,  in  most  cases,  made 
directly  from  the  buildings,  and  engraved  on  wood,  by  the 
author.  As  these  constitute  the  first  and  only  work  of  the 
kind  ever  attempted  by  him,  the  reader  will  kindly  pardon  the 
deficiency  if  not  quite  up  to  the  standard  of  artistic  excellence. 
It  was  suggested  that  the  book  would  lack  an  essential  feature 
if  devoid  of  illustrations  ;  and  as  the  expense  of  having  the 
engraving  done  at  a  regular  establishment,  would  more  than 
balance  the  profits  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  from  the 
sale  of  the  book,  the  author  was,  from  necessity,  forced  to  do 
the  work  himself.  They  are  believed,  on  the  whole,  to  be  as 
truthful  as  cuts  usually  are. 

The  writer  is  well  aware  that  he  cannot  expect  to  please  all 
classes  alike.  What,  to  one  person,  would  be  of  no  conse 
quence,  would  be  replete  with  interest  to  another.  The  effort 
has  been  made  to  abridge  so  as  not  to  weary  the  patience  of 
the  general  reader,  and  at  the  same  time  not  to  omit  what 
might  prove  interesting  and  important ;  while  it  is  believed 
nothing  superflous  has  been  inserted.  If  any  reader  finds  his 
favorite  theme  has  not  been  dwelt  upon  as  profusely  as  he 
could  wish,  he  should  bear  in  mind  that  another  is  the  better 
pleased  for  the  abridgement.  If,  in  the  subsequent  chapters, 
there  should  be  found  a  little  tendency  toward  the  romantic, 
suffice  it  to  say  that  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  readers  find 
delight  in  such  topics.  The  romance  of  a  locality  is  as  much  a 
part  of  its  history,  as  is  the  name  of  its  occupant,  or  the  value 
of  its  land  per  acre. 


PREFACE.  9 

It  is  believed  that  the  outline  map,  which  forms  a  part  of 
the  work,  will  add  not  a  little  to  its  value.  The  preparation  of 
the  stone  on  which  it  is  printed  necessitated  an  original  outlay 
of  a  considerable  sum.  and  is  believed  to  be  one  of  the 
most  complete  of  the  kind  ever  issued  in  a  local  history,  giving, 
as  it  does,  many  of  the  minor  details  only  to  be  found  in 
expensive  maps. 

The  author  expects  to  be  reminded  of  errors  and  omissions. 
He  lays  no  claim  to  perfection.  But  he  has  the- satisfaction  of 
knowing  he  has  done  the  best  he  could  under  existing  circum 
stances.  Had  he  more  leisure  and  means  at  command,  he  is 
confident  he  could  have  added  much  more  that  might  prove  of 
interest.  It  has  been  his  object  to  make  a  book  that  would 
be  read,  rather  than  praised  and  not  read,  as  would  most 
likely  be  the  case  with  a  strictly  statistical  work. 

It  may  not  be  egotistic  to  state  that  this  volume,  whatever 
its  merits  may  be,  is  essentially  the  work  of  the  County,  both 
as  regards  its  literary  and  its  mechanical  execution.  A  home 
made  article  is  always  the  more  prized  from  its  being  the  work 
of  ourselves. 

The  writer  takes  great  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  many 
favors  shown  by  individuals  of  the  different  towns,  by  way  of 
aiding  him  in  the  collection  of  data.  Many  friendships  have 
been  formed,  which  he  values  as  he  would  life-long  acquain 
tances.  Did  he  not  think  their  modesty  forbids,  he  would  be 
pleased  to  mention  them  by  name  in  this  connection. 

In  conclusion,  if  the  results  of  the  efforts  embodied  in  this 
volume  shall  be  to  rescue  one  fact  from  oblivion,  the  perpetua- 
ation  of  which  will  prove  beneficial  to  the  community ;  or  if 
its  perusal  shall  suffice  to  while  away  an  agreeable  hour  around 
the  evening  lamp,  the  author  will  consider  his  work  has  not 
been  in  vain.  PHILIP  H.  SMITH. 

Pawling,  N.  Y.,  1876. 


CONTENTS. 


MAP  OF  THE  COUNTY 

TITLE  PAGE 5 

PREFACE 7 —     9 

TABLE  OF   CONTENTS 10 —  1 1 

LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 1 2 —  1 4 

ORTHOGRAPHY  OF  NAME 15 —  16 

ABORIGINES 17 —  22 

EARLIEST  MENTION 23 —  24 

TOPOGRAPHY 25 —  26 

GEOLOGY — INCLUDING  MINERALOGY 27 —  30 

BOTANY 31 —  36 

ZOOLOGY 37 —  4° 

PATENTS 41 —  47 

COUNTY   ORGANIZATION 48 —  50 

MILITARY  HISTORY 51 —  96 

GENERAL   HISTORY 97 — 108 

AMENIA 109 — 131 

10 


CONTENTS.  I  I 

BEEKMAN 132 — 143 

CLINTON 1 44 — 1 48 

DOVER  149 — 173 

FISHKILL — INCLUDING     KAST    FISHKILL    AND    WAP- 

PINGER 174 2  I 4 

HYDE  PARK 215 — 225 

LAGRANGE 226 — 235 

MILAN 236 — 240 

NORTHEAST 241 — 256 

PAWLING    257 — 297 

PINE  PLAINS   298 — 323 

PLEASANT    VALLEY 324 — 331 

POUGHKEEPSIE 332 371 

RED  HOOK 372 — 385 

RHINEBECK 386 — 406 

STANFORD 407 — 416 

UNION    VALE 417 — 422 

WASHINGTON 423 — 434 

WAPPINGER 435 

APPENDIX  A — COMPRISING  TOWNS  IN  PUTNAM  Co.  .439 — 471 

APPENDIX  B 472 — 501 

GENERAL   INDEX   502 — 507 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


1.  Frontispiece — View  of  Poughkeepsie, 4 

2.  Hut  of  Lavina  Carter,  Schaghticoke, 20 

3.  Maringoman's  Castle,  Chief  of  Waoranacks, 22 

4.  Plan  of  Fort  Constitution, 58 

5.  Beverly  Robinson  House, 63 

6.  Winegar  House, in 

7.  Round  Top  Meeting  House  (restored), 114 

8.  Old  Separate  Meeting  House, 117 

9.  House  built  by  Deacon  Barlow, 124 

10.  Old  John  Boyd  House, 125 

1 1.  Delamater  House, 127 

1 2.  Old  Hoag  House, 129 

13.  Old  House  near  Amenia, 131 

14.  Freemanville  Palace, 135 

15.  Episcopal  Church  (Poughquag), 136 

1 6.  Col.  Vanderburgh  House, 140 

17.  Joshua  Burch  House  (restored), 141 

1 8.  Old  Poughquag  Tavern, 142 

19.  Noxon   House, 142 

20.  Old  Mill  at  Hibernia, 145 

21.  Creek  Quaker  Church  (Clinton), 145 

12 


ILLUSTRATIONS.  13 

22.  Dover  Stone  Church — from  the  outside  looking  in, ....  152 

23.  Dover  Stone  Church — from  the  inside  looking  out,.  .  .  153 

24.  Oldest   House  in  Dover, 159 

25.  The  Morehouse  Tavern, 160 

26.  Branch   Preparative  Church, 168 

27.  The  Teller  Mansion, 188 

28.  The  Wharton  House, 191 

29.  The  Verplanck  House, 198 

30.  Old  Dutch  Stone  Church, 208 

3  r.   Episcopal  Church  (Fishkill), 210 

32.  Stone  House,  near  Landing  (Hyde  Park) 218 

33.  Stone  House  at  East  Park, 219 

34.  Moore's   Mill — Rear  View, 229 

35.  Old  Hotel  Stand  at  Sprout  Creek, 232 

36.  Old  Wilbur  Mill, 237 

37.  The   "  Lafayette   House," 239 

38.  House  built  by  Ezra  Clark, 252 

39.  Pawling  Institute,  to  face   page 272 

40.  Old  Catholic  Church,  Pawling,  to  face  page 273 

41.  The    Kirby   House, 274 

42.  LaFayette's  Headquarters, 279 

43.  Hicksite   Church   (Quaker  Hill), 281 

44.  Tom   Howard's    Hotel, 290 

45.  Old   House   (Pawling), 291 

46.  Johnson   Meeting  House, 294 

47.  Monument, 296 

48.  Shekomeko  in  1745, 313 

49.  Monument  at  Wechquadnack, 316 

50.  Buettnor's  Monument, 316 

51.  The  Lasher  House, 318 

52.  Old  Pine  Tree  (Pine  Plains), 319 

53.  Ruins  of  the  Harris  Scythe  Factory, 320 

54.  Cotton  Factory  of  Garner  &  Co., 325 

55.  Baptist  Church  (Pleasant  Valley), 330 

56.  Soldiers'  Fountain,  to  face  page 336 

57.  Views  in  Eastman's  Park,  to  face  page 360 


14  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

58.  Van  Kleeck  House, 340 

59.  Livingston's   Mansion, 341 

60.  Clear  Everett  House, 343 

6 1.  Old  Quaker  Church,  Mill  Street, 353 

62.  Court  House  (Poughkeepsie). 355 

63.  City  Hall  (Poughkeepsie), 359 

64.  Catholic  Church,  Cannon  Street, 362 

65.  Jewish  Synagogue  (Poughkeepsie), 365 

66.  Horse  Ferry  Boat. 366 

67.  Collingwood  Opera  House, 371 

68.  Country  School    House, 383 

69.  Monument  at  Madalin, 384 

70.  Heermance    House, 400 

71.  Montgomery  House, 401 

72.  The  Village  Smithy, 406 

73.  Paul  Upton's  House, 412 

74.  Old  Skidmore  Mill, 418 

75.  Nine  Partner's  Boarding  School  (restored), 428 

76.  Duchess  County  Alms  House  (Washington), 432 

77.  Putnam  County  Poor  House  (Kent), 452 

78.  Diagram  of  Duchess  County,  100  years  ago.  to  face  page  500 

79.  Poughkeepsie  Bridge— -as  it  will  appear  when  finished, 508 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


ORTHOGRAPHY   OF  NAME. 


HOULD  DUCHESS  be  spelled  wither  without  the  "/?" 
Usage,  say  some,  should  determine  its  orthography,  no 
matter  how  the  name  originated.  If  this  rule  prevails,  it 
is  difficult  to  conceive  how  any  change  in  a  language  can 
ever  legitimately  occur.  The  worst  faults  in  a  language  have 
the  prerogative  of  usage  in  their  favor,  and  should  there 
fore  be  allowed  to  remain. 

A  grievous  error  was  committed  when  the  "k"  was  clipped 
from  almanack,  systematic/^,  and  the  "«"  expunged  from 
rumour,  odour,  &c.  In  olden  times  they  wrote  Rhme&r^, 
Viskill;  and  Poughkeepsie  was  written  in  every  imaginable 
way  except  the  one  now  generally  adopted  :  why  not  do  so 
now  ? 

It  must  be  admitted  the  English  language  has  been  greatly 
strengthened  and  made  more  musical  by  the  changes  it  has 
underwent  since  the  earlier  writers ;  but  all  these  improvements 
have  been  of  necessity  in  opposition  to  usage,  and  which  of 
them  ought  of  right  to  prevail  ? 

Says  a.  writer  in  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  speaking  of 
this  subject :  "A  curious  error  in  orthography  has  crept  in — 
it  being  usually  spelled  with  a  / — possibly  from  association 
with  the  early  Dutch  settlers  along  the  Hudson.  A  similar 

15 


1 6  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

mistake  is  made  in  the  spelling  of  Litchfield,  a  town  and  county 
in  Connecticut,  whereas  the  English  Lichfield,  whence  the  name 
comes,  is  never  so  spelled." 

In  the  present  volume  the  /  has  been  left  out,  believing 
this  to  be  the  correct  spelling.  We  submit  the  following,  by 
a  standard  authority,  by  way  of  substantiating  our  position  : 

"DEAR  SIR: — In  reply  to  your  inquiry,  I  state  that  the 
name  of  our  county  was  given  in  compliment  to  the  Duchess 
of  York,  whose  husband,  the  Duke  of  York,  received  from  his 
brother,  King  Charles  the  Second  of  England,  a  grant  of  the 
territory  in  America,  then  known  as  New  Netherland,  and 
now  as  the  States  of  New  York  and  New  Jersey. 

The  title  of  Duchess,  the  wife  of  a  Duke,  was  derived  from 
the  French,  in  which  language  it  is  spelled  duchesse.  Previous 
to  the  publication  of  Dr.  Johnson's  English  Dictionary  in  1755, 
the  word  was  spelled  in  the  English  language  with  a  letter  /. 
Johnson  dropped  the  /  and  also  the  final  e  of  the  French  word, 
and  it  has  ever  since  been  correctly  written  in  English,  duchess. 

With  the  change  in  the  orthography  of  the  word  in  the 
standard  lexicon  of  the  English  language,  the  spelling  of  the 
title  of  our  county  should  have  been  changed  in  our  records 
and  elsewhere.  The  error  has  been  perpetuated,  not  for  any 
reason,  but  through  mere  inadvertence. 

I  earnestly  hope  that  you  will  have  the  name  of  our  County 
spelled  without  a  /  in  your  forthcoming  history,  because  it  is 
right,  and  not  perpetuate  an  error,  because  of  hoary  prece 
dents.  Yours,  &c.,  BENSON  J.  LOSSING. 


"ABORIGINES. 


f  HE  history  of  the;  present  limits  of  DUCHESS  COUNTY, 
prior  to  1682,  belongs  to  the  Red  Man.*  But  those 
ages  in  which  he  lived  undisputed  possessor  of  the  soil 
are  as  a  sealed  book,  to  which  the  historian  turns  in 
-vain  for  the  records  of  the  past. 

There  are  those  who  write  that  this  section  of  country 
•was  without  Indian  habitations.  Such,  too,  was  the  dream  in 
.regard  to  the  land  of  the  Iroqiwis,  until  Sullivan's  blazing  torch 
lighted  the  hills  and  valleys  with  the  crackling  flames  of  forty 
Inirning  villages.  Yet  tradition,  and  the  somewhat  fragmen 
tary  history  that  has  been  gleaned,  abundantly  show  that  these 
forest  clad  hills  once  resounded  with  the  war-whoop,  and  the 
^moke  from  the  wigwam  ascended  from  the  valley,  f 

After  the  advent  of  the  Europeans,  the  Indians  were  gradu 
ally  dispossessed  of  their  happy  hunting  grounds,  sometimes  by 
purchase,  and  not  unfrequently  by  fraud.! 

*  Near  the  border*  of  this  county,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  evidences  have  boon 
sTrtssid  of  a  grand  seat  of  tlie  native  inhabitants  of  this  country  before  the  Indians,  who 
lit  rely  inhabited  it.  had  any  residence  here.  There  are  stone  pots,  knives  of  a.  peculiar 
(cfnd,  and  various  other  utensils  of  such  curious  workmanship  as  exceeds  the  skill  of  am 
JfjiuJians  since  the  English  became  acquainted  with  them.  1'robably  they  were  contempo- 
rriwseous  with  the  mound-builders  of  the  west. 

f  As  late  as  17"w  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  were  thickly  populated  bv  the  Indians.— 
7"LVl<  oil's  Hist,  West. 

$  The  Wappintrcrs  asserted  and  proved  fraud  in  the  purchase  of  that  tract  of  land 
*j>iw  -embraced  in  1'utnam  County. 

i7-b 


1 8  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

As  though  by  the  stern  decree  of  fate,  the  original  proprietors 
of  the  soil  have  melted  away  before  the  white  man,  until  not  a 
vestige  of  pure  Indian  blood  remains  within  the  County  limits ; 
and  even  the  recollection  of  such  a  race  is  fast  becoming 
obliterated. 

Among  the  Highlands  lived  the  clan  of  Wiccopees,  a  tribe 
of  the  Waoranacks*  Above  them  lived  the  tribe  of  Wap- 
pingers,  whose  name  is  still  preserved  in  that  of  the  picturesque 
streamf  flowing  into  the  Hudson.  Their  chief  locality  was  the 
valley  of  the  Fishkill,  or  "  Matteawan"  Creek,  the  aboriginal 
name  of  which,  according  to  the  popular  traditions  of  the 
country,  signified  "good  furs,"  for  which  the  stream  was  an 
ciently  celebrated.  But  modern  etymology  more  accurately 
deriving  the  term  from  "metai,"  a  magician  or  medicine  man, 
and  "wian."  a  skin,  it  would  seem  that  the  neighboring  Indians 
esteemed  the  peltries  of  the  Fishkill  as  "charmed"  by  the 
incantations  of  the  aboriginal  enchanters  who  dwelt  along  its 
banks,  and  the  beautiful  scenery  in  which  these  ancient  priests 
of  the  wild  men  of  the  Highlands  dwelt  is  thus  invested  with 
new  poetical  associations. 

The  wigwams  of  the  Wappingers  and  their  sub-tribes  extend 
ed  eastward  to  the  range  of  Taghkanick  mountains,  which  sepa 
rate  the  valley  of  the  Hudson  from  that  of  the  Housatonic. 

A  few  miles  north  of  Wappinger's  Creek  was  a  sheltered 
inlet  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fallkill,  affording  a  safe  harbor  for 
canoes  navigating  the  "  Long  Reach"  between  Pollepel's  Island 
and  Crom  Elbow.  The  aboriginal  designation  of  this  inlet 
was  Apokeepsing,  "a  place  of  shelter  from  the  storms ;"  and  the 
memory  of  this  once  famous  harbor  for  the  canoes  of  the  river 
tribes  is  perpetuated  in  the  name  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Bands  of  Minnissinks,  from  the  west  shores,  were  intermin 
gled  in  various  portions  of  the  county.  The  Sepascoots  lived 


*  Van  Dcr  Donck  places  the  Waoranacks  and  Mincces  in  the  Highlands  on  the  cast 
side  of  the  river,  and  south  of  Matteawan  Creek. 

t  Wappingers  Creek  called  by  the  Indians  Mawenawasijrh.  On  Van  Der  D^nck's 
map  three  of  the  Wappincrers  villages  are  located  on  the  south  side  of  the  ]\Iattca\van. 
North  of  that  they  are  called  the  Indians  of  the  Long1  Reach,  and  on  the  south  as  the 
Highland  Indians!  Mejrrieskon  and  Ninham  are  the  only  names  of  Indian  chiefs  of  this 
tribe  that  have  come  clown  to  us. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  1Q 

at  Rhinebeck,  and  had  their  principal  seat  eighteen  miles  north 
of  Poughkeepsie,  and  three  miles  east  of  the  river. 

Still  further  north,  near  Red  Hook  Landing,  lived  another 
clan  of  the  Wapphigers.  Here  tradition  asserts  a  great  battle 
was  fought  between  the  River  Indians  and  the  Jnx/i/ois  Con 
federates;  and  the  bones  of  the  slain  were  said  to  be  visible 
when  the  Dutch  visited  the  spot. 

Above  the  Wappingers,  and  northward  and  eastward  of 
Roeliff  JanseiYs  Kill,  the  lodges  of  the  Mohegans  extended, 
occupying  the  whole  area  of  the  present  counties  of  Columbia 
and  Rensselaer. 

A  remnant  of  the  Pequod  tribe,  from  Connecticut,*  once 
lived  near  Ten  Mile  River,  in  the  present  town  of  Dover. 
With  the  Mohegans  they  assisted  in  the  war  with  King  Philip ; 
after  the  death  of  that  chieftain,  the  Connecticut  colonists 
drove  them  out  of  that  province. 

These  were  the  Schaghticoke  Indians,  a  remnant  of  which 
yet  live  in  a  narrow  valley  between  the  Housatonic  River  and 
Schaghticoke  Mountains,  in  the  borders  of  Connecticut.  Their 
Sachem,  Gideon  Mauweesemum,  (afterwards  contracted  to. 
Mauweehu  or  Mauwee,)  first  lived  in  Derby,  than  in  Newtown.. 
and  afterwards  in  New  Milibrd.  In  1729,  thirteen  Indians, 
including  Gideon,  claimed  to  be  ''owners  of  all  unsold  lands  in 
New  Fairneld."  A  deed  of  that  year  exists  among  papers  at 
Hartford,  disposing  of  above  lands  for  sixty-five  pounds,  signed 
by  Cockenon,  "  Mauweehu,"  and  eleven  others.  This  was 
doubtless  the  town  of  Sherman,  four  miles  west  of  the  ancient- 
residence  of  the  New  Milford  Indians.  Gideon  afterward 
removed  to  Dover,  New  York. 

One  day  while  hunting  upon  what  is  now  Preston  Moun 
tain,  he  discovered  the  clear  stream  and  luxuriant  meadows  of 
the  Housatonic  Valley,  which  so  delighted  him  that  he  moved 
thither  with  his  tribe,  and  the  place  became  known  as  Schagh 
ticoke.  He  issued  invitations  to  his  old  friends  at  Potatuck, 
at  New  Milford,  to  the  Mohegans  of  Hudson  River,  and  other 
tribes  to  come  and  settle  with  him.  In  ten  years  from  the 
time  of  his  arrival  one  hundred  warriors  had  collected  under 
him.  A  large  accession  was  had  from  the  New  Milford  Indians 
in  1736,  after  the  death  of  Sachem  Waraumaug. 

*  Indian  name,  (.Miiimektukgut. 


20  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

They  had  not  enjoyed  their  happy  valley  many  years  before 
they  were  disturbed  by  the  arrival  of  the  whites.  The  settle 
ment  of  Kent  commenced  in  1738,  and  was  prosecuted  rapidly. 
The  Moravians  first  visited  the  tribe  in  1742  ;  Gideon  was  the 
first  convert,  and  was  baptized  in  1743.  Gideon  was  the  name 
given  by  the  missionaries. 

The  settlers  encroached  upon  the  lands  of  the  Indians,  and 
the  latter  petitioned  Assembly  to  have  a  tract  of  unoccupied 
land  set  off  to  them,  lying  below  the  village  of  Kent,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  Housatonic,  which  was  granted. 

In  1767,  Mauwee  and  many  other  old  persons  being  dead, 
they  became  anxious  to  remove  to  Stockbridge,  and  petitioned 
the  Assembly  to  have  their  two  hundred  acres  sold,  which  was 
refused  on  the  plea  that  the  land  did  not  belong  to  the  Indians, 
but  to  the  colony.  The  tribe  at  this  time  numbered  about  six 
hundred  souls. 

In  October.  1771,  the  following,  evidently  the  production 
of  the  Indians  themselves,  was  presented  to  the  Legislature : 

"  We  are  poor  Intins  at  Scutcuk  in  the  town  of  Kent  we 
desire  to  the  most  honorable  Sembly  at  New  Haven  we  are 
very  much  a  pressed  by  the  Nepawaug  people  praking  our 
fences  and  our  gates  and  turning  their  cattle  in  our  gardens 
and  destroying  our  fruits,  the  loss  of  our  good  friend  4  years 
ago  which  we  desire  for  another  overseer  in  his  stead  to  take 
Care  of  us  and  see  that  we  are  not  ronged  by  the  people  we 
make  choice  of  Elihu  Swift  of  Kent  to  be  our  trustee  if  it  [be] 
plesing  to  your  minds." 

In  1775  the  Assembly  ordered  the  lands  to  be  leased,  to 
pay  their  debts  and  defray  expenses.  In  1860,  Aunt  Eunice 
Mauwee,  granddaughter  of  Gideon,  died  at  the  advanced  age 
of  103  years,  and  with  her  passed  away  the  last  pure  royal 
blood.  She  had  been  an  exemplary  member  of  the  Congrega 
tional  Church  in  Kent  for  upwards  of  eighteen  years.  A  grand 
daughter  of  hers,  "  Vina"  Carter,  is  still  living  in  Schaghticoke. 

During  the  Revolution,  many  of  the 
Schaghticoke  warriors  joined  the  Ame 
rican  Army,  and  quite  a  number  of 
them  were  killed. 

The  following  different  ways  of 
spelling  the  name  of  the  tribe  are 

'nut  of  Lavina7vin^rca7to-.  taken  from  the  manuscripts  of  one  of 
the  celebrated  men  associated  with  the  Commission  at  Albany: 
Schaticook,  Scaaticook.  Schaackticook,  Skachticoke. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  21 

On  the  west  bank  of  the  "  Mahicannittuck"*  or  Hudson 
River,  dwelt  the  Minnissinks,  Nanticokes  and  Mincees,  who 
were  denominated  "  Esopus  Indians."  Says  an  historian  : — 
"  The  affinities  of  the  Mohegans  with  the  Mincees,  and 
through  them  with  the  Delawares,  are  apparent  in  the  lan 
guage,  and  were  well  recognized  at  the  time  of  the  settlement." 

Says  Schoolcraft :  "  The  Mohegans  and  Mincees  were  two 
tribes  of  Algonquin  lineage,  inhabiting  the  valley  of  the  Hud 
son  between  New  York  and  Albany." 

Below  the  Highlands,  in  the  present  county  of  Westchester, 
dwelt  the  powerful  tribe  of  Waoranacks. 

A  band  of  Mohegans  was  located  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
village  of  Pine  Plains,  of  whom  an  interesting  account  is  given 
in  the  chapter  devoted  to  that  town. 

The  Shenandoahs  were  a  sub-tribe,  dwelling  near  the  moun 
tains  of  that  name,  who,  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution  were 
reduced  to  one  man. 

"  These  tribes  were  mostly  in  subjection  to  the  Iroquois, 
and  acknowledged  it  by  the  payment  of  an  annual  tribute." 

INDIAN  GEOGRAPHICAL  TERMS. 

A  tract  of  meadow  land  "  lying  slanting  to  the  dancing 
chamber,"  north  of  Wappingers  Creek,  had  for  its  eastern 
boundary  a  creek  called  Wynogkee.  Crom  Elbow  Creek  was 
called  Equorsink  ;  lands  adjoining  on  the  Hudson,  Eaquaqua- 
nessink  ;  so  given  in  a  patent  to  Henry  Beekman,  the  bounds 
of  which  ran  from  the  Hudson  River  "east  by  the  side  of  a 
fresh  meadow  called  Mansakin,  and  a  small  creek  called  Man- 
capawimick" 

The  boundary  line  of  the  Great  Nine  Partners'  Patent 
began  "  at  the  creek  called  by  the  Indians  Aquasing,  and  by 
the  Christians  Fish  Creek.  The  Christians  spoken  of  above 
made  free  use  of  the  word  fish,  no  less  than  three  streams 
emptying  into  the  Hudson  being  given  that  name.  Roeloff 


*  Other  prominent  Indian  names  are  Mohegan,  Chatemuc,  Cahotaten. 


22  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Jansen's  Kill,  Sankpenak,  was  the  dividing  line  between  the 
Mohegans  and  Wappingers :  a  difference  in  dialect  is  shown  by 
the  geographical  terms. 

The  universal  name  the  Mincees  have  for  New  York,  says 
Heckewelder,  a  Moravian  Missionary  among  the  Indians,  is 
Laaphaivachking,  or  "the  place  of  stringing  beads." 


C  istlo,  Chief  of  Waoranacks. 


EARLIEST  MENTION. 


1609,  the  Dutch  East  India  Company  fitted  out  a  small 
ship,  named  the  Half  Moon,  with  a  crew  of  twenty  men, 
Dutch  and  English,  and  gave  the  command  to  Henry  Hud- 
son.  On  the  3d  of  September  of  that  year  Hudson  an 
chored  within  Sandy  Hook.  From  the  i2th  to  the  2oth  of  the 
same  month  he  was  employed  in  ascending  the  river  which  bears 
his  name.  This  river  is  represented,  in  the  journal  of  that 
voyage,  as  being  in  general  about  a  mile  wide,  and  of  good 
depth,  abounding  in  fish,  among  which  were  a  ''great  store  of 
salmons." 

As  he  advanced  he  found  the  land  on  both  sides  growing 
higher,  until  it  became  ''very  mountainous."  This  high  land, 
it  is  observed,  "  had  many  points ;  the  channel  was  narrow, 
and  there  were  many  eddy  winds."  During  the  passage  the 
natives  frequently  came  on  board  of  the  ship.  He  sailed 
onward  through  the  pass  guarded  by  the  frowning  Dunderberg. 
and  at  nightfall  anchored  near  West  Point.  Leaving  his 
anchorage  next  morning,  he  ran  sixty  miles  up  along  the  varied 
shores  which  lined  the  deep  channel.  "  Delighted  every 
moment  with  the  ever-changing  scenery,  and  the  magnificent 
forests  which  clothed  the  river  banks  with  their  gorgeous  autum 
nal  hues,  Hudson  arrived,  toward  evening,  opposite  the 

23 


24  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

loftier  mountains  which  lie  from  the  river's  side,  and  anchored 
the  Half  Moon  near  Catskill  Landing,  where  he  found  a  loving 
people  and  very  old  men." 

Hudson  appears  to  have  sailed  up  the  river  to  a  point  a 
little  above  where  the  city  of  Hudson  now  stands.  Not 
wishing  to  venture  further  with  the  ship,  he  sent  a  boat  in 
charge  of  the  mate,  who  went  as  far  as  the  present  site  of 
Albany. 

"Weighing  anchor  on  the  2yth,  Hudson  passed  down  the 
river,  with  a  fair  north  wind,  past  the  wigwams  of  the  'loving: 
people'  at  Catskill,  who  were  ;  very  sorrowful'  for  his  departure, 
and  toward  evening  anchored  in  deep  water  near  Red  Hook- 
where  part  of  the  crew  went  on  shore  to  fish.  The  next  two 
days  were  consumed  in  working  slowly  down  to  the  '  lower  end 
of  the  long  reach'  below  Poughkeepsie,  and  anchored  in  the 
evening  under  the  northern  edge  of  the , Highlands.*  Here  he 
lay  wind-bound  for  a  day.  in  a  very  good  roadstead,  admiring 
the  magnificent  mountains  which  looked  to  him  'as  if  they  had 
some  metal  or  mineral  in  them.' 

"  The  wild  game  sprung  from  their  familiar  retreats,  startled 
by  the  unusual  echoes  which  rolled  through  the  ancient  forests-., 
as  the  roar  of  the  first  Dutch  cannon  boomed  over  the  waters 
and  the  first  Dutch  trumpets  blew  the  inspiring  airs  of  the  dis 
tant  Fatherland.  The  simple  Indians,  roaming  unquestioned 
through  their  native  woods,  and  paddling  their  rude  canoes 
along  the  base  of  the  towering  hills  that  lined  the  unexplored 
river's  side,  paused  in  solemn  amazement  as  they  beheld  their 
strange  visitor  approaching  from  afar,  and  marveled  whence 
the  apparition  came." 

Such  is  the  account  given  of  the  first  visit  of  the  white  man1 
to  the  shore  of  DUCHESS,  made  nearly  three  centuries  ago. 


the  yk'inityiof  Fitehkill,  on  tho  Hndsoi 


TOPOGRAPHY. 


UCHESS  County  lies  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson,, 
centrally  distant  60  miles  south  from  Albany,  and  about 
75  miles  north  from  New  York.  Its  greatest  length, 
^T  north  and  south,  is  about  38  miles,  and  its  greatest 
Irceadth  26.  Its  form  is  nearly  that  of  a  parallelogram.  It  is 
bounded  on  the  north  by  Columbia  County;  on  the  east  by 
Fairfield  and  Litchfield  Counties,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut ; 
and  on  the  south  by  the  County  of  Putnam.  Opposite 
Duchess,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hudson,  lie  the  counties  of 
Orange  and  Ulster. 

Its  surface  is  principally  a  rolling  and  somewhat  mountain 
ous  upland,  broken  by  the  deep  valleys  of  the  streams.  The 
Taghkanick  Mountains,  extending  through  the  east  border  of 
the  County,  are  from  300  to  500  feet  above  the  valleys,  and 
from  1000  to  1200  feet  above  tide.  The  declivities  of  these 
mountains  are  generally  steep,  and  in  some  places  rocky. 

The  Matteawan,  or  Fishkill  Mountains,  constitute  a  high 
broad  range,  which  extends  nearly  north  and  south,  and 
occupies  the  central  part  of  the  county.  A  spur  from  this 
range  extends  along  the  southern  border  to  the  Hudson,  form 
ing  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Highlands.  These  mountains 
have  an  average  elevation  of  about  1000  feet  above  tide,  the 


26  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

highest  peaks  along  the  southern  border  attaining  the  elevation 
of  1500  to  1700  feet.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  County  the 
mountain  declivities  are  steep  and  rocky ;  but  toward  the  north 
the  country  assumes  a  rolling  character,  broken  by  rounded 
hills.  The  western  part  of  the  County  is  a  rolling  upland, 
occasionally  broken  by  deep  ravines  and  isolated  hills,  and 
terminating  upon  the  Hudson  River  Valley  in  a  series  of  bluffs 
TOO  to  1 80  feet  high. 

The  Taghkanick  Mountains  run  in  a  northeast  and  south 
west  direction,  passing  into  Putnam,  at  which  point  the  Hudson 
River  forces  a  passage  through  them.  On  the  west  side  of 
the  river  they  assume  the  name  of  Kittatiny  Mountains,  and 
continue  their  course  into  New  Jersey  and  Pennsylvania  under 
that  name.  The  Taghkanick  system  forms  the  most  eastern 
Appalachian  Mountain  Range,  and  extends  through  the 
counties  of  Columbia.  Rensselaer,  Washington,  Ulster,  Greene, 
Albany.  Saratoga,  and  other  counties  west  of  the  Hudson  River. 

On  the  west  rolls  the  majestic  Hudson,  the  "  River  of 
Mountains,"  as  appropriately  named  by  its  eminent  discoverer. 

The  greatest  part  of  the  streams  that  drain  the  county  are 
tributaries  of  the  Hudson.  Principal  of  these  are  the  Sawkill, 
Landimans,  Crom  Elbow,  Fallkill,  Wappingers  and  Fishkill. 
Sprout  Creek  is  a  considerable  branch  of  the  Fishkill.  Ten 
Mile  River,  otherwise  called  Weebutook  or  Oblong  River,  runs 
south  through  Amenia  into  Dover,  where  it  turns  east  and  dis 
charges  its  waters  into  the  Housatonic,  in  the  State  of  Connecti 
cut.  Ten  Mile  River  receives  Swamp  River  from  the  south. 
Croton*  River,  takes  its  rise  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
•county,  and  Roeliff  Jansen's  Kill  flows  through  a  small  portion 
of  the  extreme  northern  part. 

Among  the  highlands  in  the  central  and  eastern  parts  are 
romantic  lakes,  noted  for  the  purity  of  their  waters  and  the 
beauty  of  scenery  immediately  about  them. 


*  Indian  name  Kitchawan,  a  term  descriptive  of  a  large  and  swift-flowing  current. 
-Croton,  the  present  name,  is  said  to  have  been  adopted  from  an  illustrious  sachem  who 
lived  in  the  limits  of  Cortlandt,  Westchcster  County,  or  as  others  say  "who  lived  and 
exercised  his  authority  at  the  mouth  of  the  stream." 


GEOLOGY. 


County  in  the  eastern  partis  primitive,  granite  and 
gneiss  being  the  principal  constituents. 
Geologists  differ  in  opinion  whether  the  Taghkanick* 
system  should  be  ranked  with  the  primary  or  transition. 
It  is  composed  of  brown  sandstone,  limestone,  and  green 
shales  or  slaty  rocks.  It  contains  some  minerals,  and  furnishes 
a  fine  limestone  for  building,  but  has  few  or  no  fossils.  The 
soil  which  overlays  this  system  is  generally  good,  and  often 
highly  fertile. 

The  county  comprises  extensive  alluvial  and  diluvial  deposits. 
The  former  consist  of  sand,  gravel,  loam,  &c.  The  latter  are 
a  stiff  blue  clay  beneath,  a  yellowish  brown  clay  above  this, 
and  sand  on  the  surface.  The  marine  shells  found  in  these 
clays,  belonging  in  some  instances  to  extinct  species,  show  that 
these  deposits  were  made  at  an  earlier  period  than  those  thrown 
down  by  rivers  or  oceans  in  modern  times.  To  this  system 
belong  also  the  boulders  scattered  in  the  county. 

MINERALOGY. 

Extensive  and  valuable  deposits  of  brown  hematite  occur  in 
various  parts  of  the  county. 

*  Tlic  Tafrlikunick  system  is  claimed  by  some  as  corresponding  to  the  Cambrian 
system  of  Mr.  Scdgwick,  and  by  others  to  be  newer  formations  changed  by  heat. 

27 


28  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Fishkill  Bed  is  situated  about  three  miles  northeast  of  the 
village  of  Hopewell.  The  ore,  which  is  chiefly  limonite,  pre 
sents  all  the  varieties  from  the  compact  brown  hematite  to  the 
yellowish  clayey  ochre.  The  brown  ore  is  usually  in  the  form 
of  rounded  nodules,  which  are  sometimes  hollow ;  and  when 
this  is  the  case,  the  inner  surface  is  highly  polished,  and  has 
the  appearance  of  having  undergone  fusion.  Not  unfrequently, 
beautiful  stalactites  are  found  in  these  balls  ;  and  occasionally 
a  black  powder  supposed  to  be  oxide  of  manganese.  This 
bed,  as  well  as  the  other  beds  of  limonite  found  in  this  part 
of  the  county,  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  mica  or  talcose 
slate  with  the  grey  and  white  limestone. 

Clove  Bed. — This  is  an  extensive  deposit  of  brown  hematite 
in  the  southwestern  part  of  Union  Vale.  Like  most  of  the 
ore  beds  in  this  district,  it  is  worked  to  the  day,  as  it  is  tech 
nically  called.  It  contains  a  larger  proportion  of  the  ochrey,  or 
fine  ore,  than  the  Fishkill  bed,  and  which  is  usually  considered 
the  most  valuable.  Associated  with  this  ore  are  minute  crystals 
of  oxide  of  manganese.  This  locality  is  further  deserving  of 
notice  from  the  fact  that  the  rare  mineral  gibbsite  is  associated 
with  the  hematite. 

Foss  Bed. — Situated  in  the  town  of  Dover,  one  mile  and  a 
half  west-southwest  from  the  furnace  of  the  Dover  Iron  Com 
pany.  In  extent  this  bed  seems  to  be  inferior  to  either  of  the 
above  beds,  and  contains  a  larger  proportion  of  foreign  sub 
stances,  and  work  on  it  has  for  some  time  been  discontinued. 

Amenia  Bed. — An  enormous  deposit  of  hematitic  iron  ore, 
near  the  village  of  Amenia.  It  presents  all  the  varieties 
observed  at  the  other  localities,  and  contains  a  fair  proportion 
of  the  yellow  pulverulent  ochre  so  much  esteemed  by  iron 
smelters.  There  are  several  beds  of  the  same  ore  in  the 
vicinity  of  that  just  mentioned,  such  as  the  Chalk  Pond  and 
Indian  Pond  Ore  Beds,  and  another  at  Squabble  Hole.* 

Pawling  Bed. — Situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half  west  from 
Pawling  Station.  This  is  an  extensive  deposit  of  brown  hema- 

*  Layers  of  the  oxide  of  /me  are  formed  in  the  chimney  of  some  of  the  furnaces  in 
this  county,  proving  that  this  mineral  also  exists  in  the  ore. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  29 

tite,  of  a  superior  quality.  The  ore  yields  from  forty-five 
to  fifty  per  cent,  of  metallic  iron,  and  lies  near  the  surface  of 
the  ground. 

Other  beds  have  been  opened  within  the  county,  and  are 
being  more  or  less  extensively  worked. 

The  iron  region  just  described  is  undoubtedly  a  part  of  the 
great  series  of  deposits  which  has  been  traced  in  nearly  a 
northern  direction  through  the  States  of  Connecticut,  Massa 
chusetts  and  Vermont. 

Bog  iron  ore*'  has  been  found  in  various  parts  of  the  county, 
though  not  in  sufficient  quantity  to  attract  much  notice. 

In  the  southeast  corner  of  the  town  of  Northeast  is  a  thin 
vein  of  galena,  f  Several  openings  are  to  be  seen,  which  are 
said  to  have  been  worked,  as  early  as  the  year  1740,  by  a  com 
pany  of  Germans,  the  ore  being  sent  to  Bristol,  England. 
Soon  after  this  they  were  abandoned,  but  were  re-opened  during 
the  Revolution,  since  which  time  they  have  been  entirely  neg 
lected. 

Unimportant  localities  of  the  sulphuret  of  lead  have  been 
noticed  in  the  towns  of  Amenia  and  Rhinebeck. 

Beds  of  marble,  similar  to  those  found  in  Massachusetts 
near  the  borders  of  this  State,  exist  in  the  towns  of  Amenia, 
Dover,  Pawling,  Beekman  and  Fishkill.  In  Dover,  the  quar 
ries  have  been  extensively  wrought ;  and  the  marble  which  they 
yield,  although  dolomite,  is  pure  white,  fine-grained,  and  takes 
a  medium  polish.  Clouded  marble  occurs  in  the  towns  of 
Amenia  and  Northeast. 

Hudson  River  Slate  forms  no  inconsiderable  part  of  the 
rock  formation  in  the  western  part  of  the  county.  This  rock 
has  been  quarried  at  Red  Hook  for  flagging,  and  in  various 
places  for  roofing  slate. 

Deposits  of  marl  have  been  noticed  in  the  towns  of  Rhine- 


*  Hog  ore  is  deposited  in  swamps,  the  bottoms  of  which  arc  clay,  liardpan.  or  some 
other  strata  impervious  to  water.  It  is  continually  accumulating,  so  that  it  may  be  removed 
two  or  three  times  in  a  century,  it  has  various  shades  of  color,  from  a  yellow  to  a  dark 
brown.  One  variety  is  liable  tu  blow  up,  sometimes  destroying  the  furnace  in  which  it  is 
being  smelted. 

t  The  principal  ore  from  which  the  metal  lead  is  extracted. 


30  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

beck,  Northeast,  Pine  Plains,  Stanford,  Red  Hook  and  Milan. 
Often  they  are  associated  with  peat.  Two  localities  of  graphite* 
occur  :  One  at  Fishkill  Hook,  and  another  about  two  and  a 
half  miles  south  of  Fishkill  Landing. 

A  sulphur  spring  occurs  one  mile  and  a  quarter  north- 
northwest  of  the  village  of  Amenia. 

Dark  colored  calcareous  spar  is  found  in  Rhinebeck. 

In  the  town  of  Fishkill,  near  Peckville,  a  little  north  of  the 
line  of  Putnam  County,  there  is  a  large  bed  of  talc  in  the 
primitive  rock,  which  has  been  opened  as  a  quarry  of  soapstone. 
Its  value  is  impaired  in  consequence  of  minerals  being  found 
imbedded  in  it. 

A  deposit  of  kaoline  (porcelain  clay)  has  been  found  near 
Shenandoah,  East  Fishkill,  on  lands  of  Mr.  Seymour  Baxter. 
The  clay  has  been  tested,  and  is  pronounced  first-class.  Kao 
line  proceeds  from  the  decomposition  of  the  mineral  feldspar. 
This,  in  making  porcelain,  is  mingled  with  a  fusible  earthy 
matter  called  petitnse. 

Inflammable  carburetted  hydrogen  gas  is  emitted  from  the 
bottom  of  a  lake  in  Northeast. 

Crystalized  garnet  occurs  abundantly  in  mica  slate  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Foss  Ore  Bed,  and  also  at  the  Stone  Church,  in 
the  town  of  Dover. 

Besides  these  are  found  calcite,  asbestus,  staurotide.  epidote, 
green  actinolite,  anthophyllite,  and  tourmaline. 

*  Black  lead. 


BOTANY. 


TJTNDER  this  head,  little  more  than  a  brief  mention  of  the 
j^j       more  common  and  most  important  productions  can  be 
t^\Cf*     given,  as  an  attempt  at  an  exhaustive  treatment  would 
of  itself  fill  the  limits  of  this  volume. 

e> 

The  forest  trees  form  a  large  portion  of  the  vegetable 
wealth  of  the  county,*  though  the  display  in  this  respect  is  far 
inferior  to  what  it  was  at  the  time  of  settlement ;  the  clearing 
up  of  the  soil  for  purposes  of  agriculture,  and  the  avarice  of 
man,  have,  in  a  great  measure,  denuded  the  mountains  and 
valleys  of  the  magnificent  forest  trees  that  were  once  their 
pride  and  glory. 

The  cone  bearers  (  Conifcne )  which  are  nearly  all  evergreen 
trees,  are  well  represented  in  our  Flora.  There  are  several 
species  of  Pine.  Tamarack  (P.  Pendiila)  differs  from  all 
other  pines  in  its  leaves,  which  fall  at  the  approach  of  Winter. 
Hemlock,  Spruce.  Red  Cedar  and  Arbor  Vitse  belong  to  the 

*  There  was  not  an  unbroken  forest  here  when  the  first  settlers  came;  as  the  fires  of 
the  Indians,  in  their  pursuit  of  game,  had  destroyed  the  timher  on  the  dry  lands,  except  a 
ie\v  specimens  of  oak,  white  wood  and  wild  cherry,  some  of  which  attained  great  size. 
On  the  plains  were  scattered  small  oaks  which  had  sprung  up  after  the  fires,  and  by  the 
creeks  and  in  wet  lands  there  were  large  buttonwood  and  black  ash  trees,  while  all  the 
streams  were  overhung  with  a  mass  of  alders  and  willows.  The  mountains,  it  lias  been 
said,  were  covered  with  a  less  dense  growth  of  wood  than  at  present.  It  is  evident  that 
in  the  valleys,  the  white  wood  or  tulip  tree,  and  the  wild  cherry  have  given  place  to  other 
trees,  as  the  clni :  and  that  on  the  mountains,  the  chestnut  has  greatly  increased.  Tic 
mountains,  being  burned  over  also  by  the  Indians,  were  so  hare,  that  the  wild  deer  wore 
plainly  seen  from  the  valley-  below.— [History  of  Amenia. 

31 


32  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

same  natural  family.  The  last  mentioned  variety  is  conspicu 
ous  along  the  Hudson  for  its  cone-like  growth  ;  and  is  some 
times  found  in  the  interior  in  swampy  places,  and  is  then  known 
as  White  Cedar. 

The  Oaks  are  still  more  numerous.  White  Oak  (  Quercus 
Alba)  is  one  of  our  most  valuable  timber  trees.  The  wood  is 
of  great  strength  and  durability,  and  is  used  when  these  quali 
ties  are  required.  Other  varieties  are  the  Red  Oak  (  Quercu* 
Rubra),  Pin  Oak  (  Quercus  Paluster),  and  Black  Oak  (  Qiier- 
tetron. ) 

The  White  P^lm*  ( Ulmus  Americana),  when  growing  in 
moist  rich  soil,  is  one  of  the  thriftiest  of  the  forest  trees. 
The  Red  or  Slippery  Elm  ( Ulmus  Fulva)  known  for  the 
mucilaginous  properties  of  its  inner  bark,  and  Witch  Elm 
{  Ulmus  Montana)  are  found. 

The  Plane  or  Button  wood  (Platanus),  Ash  (Traxinus), 
Basswood,  Lime  or  Linen  (Selia),  Beech  (Tagus),  Birch 
(Petula),  and  Dogwood  (  Cornus),  are  more  or  less  common. 
The  latter  possesses  many  of  the  medicinal  properties  peculiar 
to  Peruvian  Bark. 

Shell  Bark  Hickory  (  Carya  Alba)  bears  the  common  white 
walnut,  so  pleasant  to  crack  by  the  Winter  fireside. 

The  Chestnut  ( Castanea)  is  a  variety  of  the  European, 
differing  only  in  its  smaller  and  sweeter  nuts.  The  Tulip  or 
Whitewood  (Liriodendrori)  is  the  pride  of  our  forests  for  its 
majestic  growth,  symmetrical  form  and  handsome  foliage. 

The  Sycamore  (Plantanus),  the  Poplars  and  the  Willowsf 
are  of  little  value  except  as  shade  trees.  The  Locust  (Rolnnia} 
is  a  tree  of  rapid  growth,  graceful  form,  its  wood  hard  and 
nearly  indestructible,  and  is  not  a  native  of  the  county,  but  is 
cultivated  for  sale,  and  as  an  ornamental  tree. 

Among  the  varieties  of  Maple  (Acer)  are  the  Sugar  Maple, 


*  From  the  bark  of  the  -white  elm  the  Indian  manufactured  his  light  canoe.  Thesw- 
were  sewed  together  with  thongs  made  from  the  sinews  of  the  deer.  One  of  them  waw 
capable  of  holding  from  12  to  14  men,  or  150  bushels  of  corn. 

f  The  Willow  exhibits  a  remarkable  hardihood.  If  a  young' willow  be  inverted,  th»? 
branches  will  become  roots  and  the  roots  put  forth  leaves  like  the  branches.  If  a  branch 
be  inserted  into  the  ground,  either  by  the  lower  or  upper  end,  or  by  both  at  once,  it  will 
take  root  and  flourish. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  33 

.-J3  large  and  handsome  tree,  well  known  as  furnishing  the  sap 
£rom  which  maple  sugar  is  made ;  the  Red,  the  White,  and  the 
•Mountain  Maple  or  Moosewood.  Curled  Maple  and  Birdseye 
Maple  are  only  accidental  varieties  of  the  Sugar  Maple. 

The  mountain  sides  and  woods  are  clothed  with  a  growth 
<siF  shrubs,  as  the  Whortleberry,  Sweetfern,  Rhododendron  and 
•fche  Mountain  Laurel.  Anemone  and  Violets,  the  Cowslip  or 
-Marsh  Marigold  whose  yellow  cups  illuminate  the  swamps,  the 
'Woodbine,  Bloodroot  and  the  Skunk  Cabbage,  serve  to  mark 
lebe  opening  Spring.  The  last  mentioned,  though  pleasing 
neither  in  name  nor  odor,  possesses  a  kind  of  beauty,  and  is 
SL^e  earliest  to  appear. 

'The  Pond  Lily — said  by  Hawthorne  to  be  "  the  most  satis 
factory  of  flowers" — is  a  plant,  the  flowers  of  which,  attached 
ta&  long  stems,  float  upon  the  surface  of  the  water  in  slow  flow 
ing  streams,  and  in  ponds  having  muddy  bottoms ;  like  the 
Ifrimrose  and  Four-o'clock,  opening  in  the  early  morn  to  rejoice 
LD  the  Summer  sunshine,  and  in  the  afternoon  closing  again  to 
s-ieep  through  the  night.  The  botanical  name  is  Nymph<za, — so 
called  from  the  fact  that  the  Greeks  associated  the  Pond  Lily 
with  the  water  nymphs. 

Besides  those  mentioned,  the  more  frequent  plants  of  low 
g-rounds  and  margins  of  streams  are  the  Iris,  Sweet  Flag*  or 
Cjalamus  Root,  Forget-me-not,  whose  bright  blue  flowers  con 
tinue  from  early  Spring  till  frost ;  Arrow  Leaf;  Cat-tail  Flag, 
fwed  of  boys,  and  shaped  like  a  cannon-sponge ;  together  with 
numerous  varieties  of  Rush  and  Sedges. 

Plants  of  the  group  called  by  botanists  Composite  to  which 
t.he  Asters  and  Golden-rods  belong,  forming  one-ninth  of  our 
entire  flora,  are  characteristic  of  the  Autumnal  vegetation, 
l^arrow,  Boneset,  Tansey,  Wild  Hyssop  and  some  few  others 
are  medicinal;  most  of  the  order  are  but  weeds,  as  every 
farmer  who  has  had  his  land  overrun  with  Canada  Thistles  and 
SPigweed  can  testify.  The  Sunflowers  and  Jerusalem  Arti- 


*  A  plant  having  aromatic  and  medicinal  qualities,  and  with  us  are  small  weakly 
;  but  liates  and  other  travelers  in  the  Amazon  speak  of  seeing  them  of  enormous 


34  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

chokes  are  not  natives,  but  are  sometimes  found  in  waste 
places  near  habitations.  Sweet  Cicely,  an  umbelliferous  plant 
of  sweetish  taste,  is  found  in  certain  localities.  The  Wild 
Carrot,  poisonous  in  its  native  state,  is,  when  cultivated,  the 
esculent  Carrot  of  the  garden.* 

In  the  deep  recesses  of  woods  and  swamps,  the  Arum  and 
the  Orchis  are  met  with.  Poison  Hemlock,  by  a  draught  of 
which  Socrates  is  said  to  have  died,  with  other  introduced  and 
native  plants,  as  the  Milkweed,  Plantain,  Canada  Thistle,  Poke 
Weed,  Thorn  Apple,  Oxeye  Daisy,,  and  Dandelion,  belong  to  a. 
class  that  might  be  denominated  "wayside  plants,"  from  their 
commonly  occupying  a  position  beside  roads  and  fences.  The 
Plantain  has  been  called  by  the  Indians  "white  man's  footstep," 
because  it  is  found  wherever  he  has  placed  his  dwelling.  The 
more  it  is  trodden  down,  the  more  luxuriantly  does  it  grow. 

Of  the  family  Rosacecz  are  the  Eglantine,  or  Sweet  Brier, 
Rose,  Blackberry,  Strawberry,  Thornbush,  Service  Berry  or 
Shad  Bush,  Wild  Plum  and  the  lofty  Wild  Cherry :  the  latter 
is  much  used  in  cabinet  work. 

Of  the  Labiate  or  the  Mint  tribe,  Spearmint  or  Julep  Weed 
Peppermint,  Pennyroyal,  Catnip,  Balm  and  Mountain  Mint 
are  generally  known. 

A  few  of  the  Nightshade  tribe  are  natives,  as  the  Bitter 
sweet  and  Deadly  Nightshade,  the  latter  of  which  has  a  sus 
picious  appearance,  and  is  reputed  poisonous. 

Buckwheat  is  one  of  the  Polygonacea,  and  of  the  same 
order  are  the  common  Sorrel,  Water  Dock  and  Smart  Weed. 

Shrubby  plants  are  numerous ;  many  species  are  highly 
ornamental ;  others,  from  their  virtues,  are  admitted  into  the 
Pharmacopoeias ;  others,  again,  are  poisonous.  Of  this  latter 
class  is  the  Swamp  Sumac,  simple  contact  with  which,  or  mere 
exposure  to  its  effluvium,  being  sufficient  in  many  cases  to  pro 
duce  a  most  painful  eruption  of  the  skin.  Mercury  or  Poison 


*  The  cabbage,  in  its  wild  state,  is  a  slender  branching  herb,  with  no  appearance  of  a 
head.  The  potato,  in  its  native  wilds  of  tropical  America,  is  a  rank  running  vine  with 
scarcely  a  tuber  upon  its  roots:.  A.11  the  rich  varieties  of  the  apple  have  sprung  by  artificial 
means  from  an  austere  forest  fruit.  The  numerous  and  splendid  varieties  of  the  dahlia 
are  the  descendants  of  a  coarse  Mexican  plant  with  an  ordinary  y«llow  flower. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  35 

Oak  (sometimes  called  Poison  Ivy)  is  less  active  than  the 
preceding,  but  sufficiently  so  to  cause  all  who  are  easily 
affected  by  vegetable  poisons  to  shun  its  neighborhood.  The 
leaves  of  the  common  Sumac  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
Morocco. 

The  wild  upright  Honeysuckle,  the  broad-leaved  Laurel, 
and  the  gorgeous  May  Apple,  make  the  woods  gay  by  the  pro 
fusion  of  their  flowers. 

The  Dwarf  Laurel  (known  also  as  sheep-poison  and  lamb- 
kill)  is  a  pretty  little  bush,  but  has  a  bad  reputation,  its  leaves 
being  said  to  poison  sheep. 

The  Elder,  and  the  Hazel,  prized  for  its  nuts,  are  found  in 
every  coppice.  The  Whortleberry;  the  Bilibery,  frequent  in 
swamps  and  shady  woods,  and  the  agreeably  acid  Cranberry, 
abound. 

The  banks  of  every  stream  and  rivulet  are  fringed  with 
Willow,  Alder,  and  Spice  Wood.  Witch  Hazel  is,  in  the  eyes 
of  the  superstitious,  a  most  notable  shrub,  because,  in  the 
moment  of  parting  with  its  foliage,  it  puts  forth  a  profusion  of 
gaudy  yellow  blossoms,  as  though  from  enchantment,  giving  to 
November  the  counterfeited  appearance  of  Spring. 

No  class  of  plants  is  so  widely  distributed  as  the  grasses. 
They  form  the  principal  portion  of  the  herbage  of  the  earth,, 
giving  to  the  hills  and  plains  their  lovely  green.  Though  our 
flora  contains  many  native  species,  only  a  small  number  are  of 
value,  our  meadow  grasses  being,  with  some  exceptions,  of 
foreign  origin.  The  principal  varieties  are  Clover,  Timothy, 
Sweet  Vernal  grasses,  which,  when  half  withered,  give  out  a 
pleasant  odor  of  vanilla,  Blue  Grass  and  Rough  Grass,  most  of 
which  have  spread  all  over  our  pasture  grounds.  Some  grasses 
are  peculiar  to  the  sands  ;  their  matted  roots,  forming  a  thick 
sod,  prevent  the  loose  soil  from  being  carried  away  by  water  or 
wind.  Many  others,  by  their  annual  decay,  aid  in  fertilizing 
the  soil.  Phragmites,  the  largest  grass  of  the  Northern  States, 
looking  at  a  distance  like  Broom  Corn,  grows  by  the  borders  of 
swamps  and  ponds. 


36  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

The  Wild  Oat,  and  Chess,  into  which  many  people  errone 
ously  believe  Wheat  and  Rye  degenerate,  are  found. 

Ferns  and  fern-like  plants  occupy  a  wide  extent  of  territory ; 
such  as  the  common  Brake,  under  which  the  sportsman  is  sure 
to  find  the  rabbit  and  the  partridge.  The  Scouring  Rush  is 
used  for  polishing  wood  and  metals. 

In  moist  thickets,  conspicuous  from  its  red  fruit,  is  the 
Winter  Berry,  once  used  for  the  cure  of  fever  and  ague.  * 


*  In  the  Report  of  a  Geological  and  Botanical  Survey  of  the  State  made  by  order  of 
the  Legislature  previous  to  1850,  the  whole  number  of  flowering  plants  in  the  State  was 
said  to  be  1450.  Of  these  1200  are  herbaceous,  and  150  may  be  regarded  as  ornamental. 
Of  woody  plants  there  are  250  species,  including  about  SO  that  attain  the  stature  of  trees. 
Of  native  and  naturalized  medicinal  plants  there  are  100  varieties. 


ZOOLOGY. 


AMMALIA. — By  mammalia  are  meant  all  those  ani 
mals  having  warm  blood,  a  double  heart,  and  bringing 
forth  its  young  alive.  Of  the  Carnivora,  or  flesh- 
eaters,  may  be  mentioned  the  Mole,  Raccoon,  Skunk, 
Weasel,  Mink,  Otter,  Dog  (five  varieties  of  which  are  native), 
Black  Bear*  Wolf  and  Panther. 

Of  the  Rodentia,  or  gnawers,  are  the  Fox  •  the  Red,  Striped 
and  Flying  Squirrel ;  the  Woodchuck,  or  Ground  Marmot ; 
the  Musquash,  or  Muskrat ;  the  common  Rat,  Mouse,  and 
the  Grey  Rabbit ;  the  Beaver  and  the  Porcupine. 

Ungulata. — Animals  with  toes  covered  with  a  horny  case, 
or  hoof.  Of  these  we  have  the  Hog,  Horse,  Ass,  Ox,  Goat, 
Sheep,  Fallow  Deer,  Moose  and  Buffalo.^ 

Aves,  or  Birds. — Birds  of  prey,  Accibitres,  include  Eagles, 
Hawks  and  Owls.  Passeres,  birds  of  passage.  This  class  in 
cludes  most  of  those  birds  that  depart  for  a  more  southern 


*  Such  as  arc  not  now  found  here  in  a  wild  state  are  printed  in  italics. 

t  The  vast  gorges  of  the  Highlands  and  these  vales  once  abounded  with  the  buffalo. 
— [TrumbuH's  Hist.  Conn. 

Van  Uer  Donck,  writing  of  this  vicinity  in  1656,  saj's :  "  Buffaloes  are  tolerably 
plenty,  but  these  animals  keep  mostly  toward  the  southwest,  where  few  people  go.  It  is 
remarked  that  half  these  animals  have  disappeared  and  left  the  country.' 

An  early  European  traveler,  visiting  this  vicinity,  thus  writes  home:— "The  animals 
here  are  of  the  same  species  as  ours,  (except  lions  and  other  strange  beasts) ;  many  bears,, 
wolves,  which  harm  nobody  but  the  small  cattle:  elks  and  deer  in  abundance;  foxes,, 
beavers,  otters,  minks  and  sruch  like."— [Doc.  Hist.  New  York. 

37 


38  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

clime  in  Autumn,  and  return  in  the  Spring.  Galluuz,  or  Cock 
tribe,  include  our  domestic  fowls,  Wild  Turkey,  Partridge,  &c. 
Natatores,  or  swimmers,  includes  Loons,  Wild  Ducks  and 
Geese,  &c.  The  following  embraces  the  birds  most  common 
in  the  county,  in  addition  to  those  already  mentioned  : 

The  Great  Horned  Owl,*  that  makes  the  woods  resonantwith 
its  solemn  hoots  at  night-time ;  the  little  Screech-Owl  that  utters 
a  harsh,  disagreeable  noise  in  the  vicinity  of  barns  and  dwellings 
during  the  still  hours  of  darkness  ;  the  Whippoorwill,|  whose 
plaintive  cry  issues  from  the  thicket  during  the  Summer  twi 
light  ;  the  Nighthawk,  making  its  peculiar  whirring  noise  as  it 
dives  after  its  prey ;  the  Chimney  Swallow,  that  peoples  the 
chimneys  of  old  dwellings  ;  the  Barn  Swallow,  Martin,  King 
fisher  and  Humming  Bird ;  the  little  Wren  that  loves  to  linger 
near  the  habitations  of  man  ;  the  Blue  Bird,  one  of  the  earliest 
of  Spring ;  the  Brown  Thrush  ;  the  Cat-Bird,  the  noisiest  of 
our  song  birds  ;  the  American  Robin,  Wood  Pewee,  Phebe- 
Bird,  Blue  Jay,  Crow,  Crow  Blackbird  and  Meadow  Lark ;  the 
Bobolink,:}:  that  rejoices  in  the  sunny  meadows  during  the 
months  of  May  and  June  ;  the  Sparrow,  Bunting  and  Chip- 
ping-bird;  the  Yellow-Bird,  or  American  Gold  Finch,  that 
revels  in  the  pastures  and  stubble  fields  of  Autumn ;  the  Snow 
Bird  that  comes  riding  on  the  storm  blasts  of  Winter ;  the  Red 
Bird,  Woodpecker,  Turtle  Dove,  Quail,  Plover,  Woodcock  and 
Snipe. 

According  to  a  survey  made  previous  to  1850  there  are 
nearly  i.ooo  varieties  of  birds  found  in  the  State.  The  Eng 
lish  Sparrow  has  been  introduced,  which  multiplies  so  rapidly, 
and  is  of  such  a  contentious  disposition  as  to  cause  the  appre 
hension  that  the  smaller  native  birds  will  be  driven  off. 


*  "  The  clamorous  owl  that  nightly  hoots."— [Shakspeare. 

t  The  notes  of  this  solitary  bird,  from  the  ideas  which  are  associated  with  them, 
seems  like  the  voice  of  an  old  friend,  and  are  listened  to  by  almost  all  with  great  interest. 
At  first  they  issue  from  some  retired  part  of  the  woods,  the  glen  or  mountain ;  in  a  few  eve 
nings  we  hear  them  from  the  adjoinii  g  coppice,  the  garden  fence,  the  road  before  the  door, 
and  even  from  the  roof  of  the  dwelling  house,  long  after  the  family  have  retired  to  rest. 
Every  evening  and  morning  his  shrill  and  rapid  repetition-;  are  heard  from  the  adjoining 
wood's;  and  when  two  or  more  are  calling  out  at  the  same  time,  and  at  no  great  distance 
from  each  other,  the  noise,  mingling  with  the  echoes  from  the  mountains,  is  really  surpris 
ing.  Some  of  the  more  ignorant  and  superstitious  dread  seems  on  the  decline. 

J  The  happiest  bird  of  our  Spring  is  the  bobolink  —[Irving. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  39 

Reptiles. — There  are  three  orders  of  reptiles  found,  viz.— 
the  Serpent,  the  Lizard  and  the  Turtle  tribe.  Of  the  serpents, 
two  species  are  venemous,  the  Copperhead  and  Rattlesnake. 
The  other  varieties  are  the  common  Blacksnake;  the  Pilot 
Blacksnake,  or  Racer,  found  in  the  Highlands  and  Fishkill 
Mountains ;  the  Milk  dr  Chicken  Snake ;  the  Striped  Snake  ; 
the  Grass  or  Green  Snake ;  the  Brown  Water  Snake  or  Water 
Adder — a  snake  with  its  tail  tipped  with  a  horn,  and  frequently 
regarded  with  terror,  but  without  cause ;  the  Water  Garter 
Snake,  and  the  Hog-nosed  Snake,  called  also  Deaf  Adder, 
Spreading  Adder,  &c. 

Amphibia. — Animals  living  both  on  the  land  and  in  the 
water.  Of  these  there  are  the  common  Bull-Frog  ;*  the  Amer 
ican  Toad,  a  harmless  and  useful  animal;  the  Peeper  or  Cricket 
Frog,  called  at  the  South  the  Savannah  Cricket ;  and  the  com 
mon  Tree  Toad. 

Fishes. — Of  the  Fishes  found  in  the  County,  including  the 
Hudson  River,  there  are  so  many  varieties  as  to  forbid  a  men 
tion  of  all.  Among  them  are  the  Perch,  Bass,  Catfish,  Mullet, 
Roach,  Pond  Shiner,  Eel,  Pout,  Sucker,  Trout,  Dace,  Minnow, 
Pickerel,  Pike,  Lamprey,  (sometimes  called  Lamper  Eel), 
Common  Pond  Fish,  Chubsucker,  Shad,  Salmon,  Sturgeon, 
Shark,  Eel,  Mossbunker,  Porgee,  Hudson  River  Sea  Horse, 
&c.  Over  900  varieties  are  found  in  the  State. 

Insects. — The  order  Coleoptera,  beetles,  is  very  numerous. 
The  Boring  Beetle,  the  Tumble  Bug,  Ground  Beetle,  Horn 
Bug,  and  some  others  of  brilliant  colors,  are  the  most  common 
of  this  class.  Orthoptera  includes  the  Cockroaches,  Crickets, 
and  Grasshoppers.  The  Katydid,  so  well  known  by  the  pecu 
liar  sound  produced  by  its  wing-covers  on  early  autumn  nights, 
belongs  to  the  latter  family.  Homoptera  includes  the  locusts  ; 
one  species  of  these  is  noticeable  for  remaining  seventeen  years 
in  the  grub  state.  Hemiptera,  bugs,  comprises  many  of  the 
insects  injurious  to  vegetation,  particularly  the  May  Bug,  Lady 
Bug,  Apple-tree  Blight,  cS^c.  Lepidoptera,  butterflies,  are  very 

*  The  most  wonderful  are  the  bull-fro<rs,  in  size  about  a  span,  which  croak  with  a 
ringing  noise  in  the  evening.— fDoc.  Hist  New  York. 


40  HISTORY  Ov  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

numerous.  Among  those  that  fly  during  the  day  the  best; 
known  are  the  small  yellow-winged  Butterfly,  and  the  large- 
yellow  and  black  Butterfly.  The  variety  and  beauty  of  their 
colors  attract  universal  attention.  Some  of  the  nocturnal 
species  are  very  large. 

Common  in  the  low  grounds,  during  the  Summer  evenings,  is. 
the  Fire-fly — an  insect  whose  bright  phosphorescence  illumines: 
the  darkness.  The  Indians  have  the  following  chant  to  this 
flitting,  white  fire  insect : 

Fire-fly,  fire-fly!  bright  little  thing; 
Bright  little  fairy  bug;  night's  little  king. 

— Schooler aft's  Oneota. 

Arachnidce,  Spiders,  though  a  separate  class,  may  be  men 
tioned  here.     Some  of  them  are  very  large  and  possessed  of 
great  beauty.      The   Long  Legs,  Clawed  Spider,  Tick,   Mite-,,. 
Louse,  &c.,  also  belong  to  this  order. 

The   Worms  have  not  yet  been  made  the  subject  of  general! 
investigation. 


PATENTS. 


j]  HE  Dutch  Government  sometimes  granted  lands  in  the- 
colonies  without  the  formality  of  Indian  Purchase ;  but 
it  was  the  custom  of  the  English  first  to  extinguish  the : 
aboriginal  title.  It  was  customary  to  apply  to  the  Gov 
ernor  and  Council  for  leave  to  purchase.  If  granted,  an  Indian 
treaty  was  held,  and  a  deed  obtained,  a  warrant  was  issued  for 
the  Surveyor  General  for  a  survey,  and  the  map  and  field  notes 
were  reported.  The  Attorney  General  was  then  directed  to  pre 
pare  a  df  aft  of  the  Patent,  which  was  then  submitted  to  the 
Governor  and  Council,  and,  if  approved,  was  endorsed  upon 
parchment,  recorded,  sealed,  and  issued. 

The  fees  incident  to  the  procuration  of  a  patent  were  im 
portant  sources  of  revenue  to  the  officers  concerned.  Only 
1,000  acres  could  be  granted  to  one  person;  but  this  rule  was 
evaded  by  associating  a  number  of  merely  nominal  parties ;  and 
the  officers  through  whose  hands  the  papers  were  passed  were 
often  largely  interested  in  the  grants.  In  this  respect  the  Co 
lonial  Government  became  exceedingly  corrupt,  and  stood 
greatly  in  need  of  a  reform  like  that  wrought  by  the  Revolution.. 


42  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Iii  a  few  isolated  cases,  grants  of  land  were  made  directly  by 
the  Crown,  and  consequently  do  not  appear  in  our  offices. 
Patents  of  land  were  generally  very  formal,  and  abounded  in 
repetitions.  The  grants  were  "  in  fee  and  common  socage," 
and  included  with  the  lands  all  "houses,  messuages,  tenements, 
erections,  buildings,  mills,  milldams,  fences,  inclosures,  gardens, 
orchards,  fields,  pastures,  common  of  pastures,  meadows, 
marshes,  swamps,  plains,  woods,  underwood,  timber,  trees, 
rivers,  rivulets,  runs,  streams,  water,  lakes,  ponds,  pools, 
pits,  brachen,  quarries,  mines,  minerals,  (gold  and  silver  ex- 
cepted),  creeks,  harbors,  highways,  easements,  fishing,  hunting 
and  fowling,  and  all  other  franchises,  profits,  commodities,  and 
appurtenances  whatsoever."  This  enumeration  of  rights,  more 
or  less  varied,  was  embraced  in  all  land  patents. 

Colonial  grants  were  usually  conditioned  to  the  annual  pay 
ment  of  a  quitrent,  at  a  stated  time  and  place  named  in  the 
patent.  This  payment  was  sometimes  due  in  money,  and  often 
in  wheat  or  other  commodity.  Others  were  conditioned  to  the 
payment  of  skins  of  animals,  or  a  merely  nominal  article,  as 
simply  an  acknowledgement  of  the  superior  rights  of  the 
grantors.  An  important  source  of  revenue  was  formed  by 
these  quitrents,  which,  after  the  Revolution,  became  due  to 
the  State.  In  1786  it  was  provided  that  lands  subject  to  these 
rents  might  be  released  upon  payment  of  arrears,  and  fourteen 
shillings  to  every  shilling  of  annual  dues.  Large  amounts  of 
land,  upon  which  arrears  of  rent  had  accumulated,  were  sold 
from  time  to  time,  and  laws  continued  to  be  passed  at  intervals 
for  regulating  these  rents  until  1824,  when  an  act  was  passed 
for  the  final  sale  of  all  lands  which  had  not  been  released  by 
commutation,  or  remitted  by  law.  Such  lands  as  then  re 
mained  unredeemed  were  allowed  to  be  released  by  payment 
of  $2.50  to  each  shilling  sterling  due.  In  March,  1826,  the 
last  sale  took  place.  In  1819,  the  arrears  for  quitrents, 
amounting  to  $53,280,  were  taken  from  the  general  fund,  and 
given  in  equal  proportions  to  the  Literature  and  School  Funds. 

It  was  the  custom  of  the  patentees  to  let  the  land  to  those 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  43 

•who  would  settle  on  it,  paying  little  or  no  rent*"  for  a  term  of 
years  except  the  taxes.  In  this  way  the  tenant  came  under  a 
modified  form  of  the  ancient  feudal  system. f 

The  earliest  recorded  Patent  issued,  embracing  land 
within  the  limits  of  DUCHESS,  was  that  granted  to  Francis 
Rombout  and  others,  October  lyth,  1685,  and  known  as  the 
Rombout  Patent.  The  two  Fishkills  are  included  within  that 
grant. 

Poughkeepsie  Patent,  and  Schuyler's  Patent,  granted  to 
Peter  Schuyler,  June  2,  1688,  were  included  in  the  present  town 
and  city  of  Poughkeepsie. 

The  Great,  or  Lower  Nine  Partners'  Patent,'  granted 
May  27,  1697,  to  Caleb  Heathcote  and  others,  comprising  a 
strip  of  land  some  eight  or  ten  miles  in  width,  and  extending 
from  the  Hudson  River  to  the  Oblong,  covered  the  territory, 
very  nearly,  now  included  in  the  towns  of  Clinton,  Pleasant 
Valley,  Washington,  Stanford,  the  lower  portion  of  Hyde 
Park,  and  parts  of  Amenia  and  Northeast.  This  patent  was 
granted  before  the  Oblong  was  ceded  to  New  York,  and  was 
bounded  by  what  was  then  the  Colony  line.  It  was  divided 
into  thirty-six  principal  lots,  besides  nine  "  Water  Lots,"  extend 
ing  across  the  lower  part  of  Hyde  Park.  The  lots  were  nearly 
equal,  containing  about  3,400  acres,  varying  to  some  extent 
according  to  the  quality  of  the  land. 

The  Philipse  Patent  (comprising  nearly  the  present  County 
of  Putnam,  which  was  set  off  from  DUCHESS  in -1812)  was 


*  Large  tracts  of  land  in  Albany-urn!  Kcnsselaer  Counties,  portions  of  the  estates  of 
the  first  Patrnons  (patrons)  are.  yet  (187(i)  in  possession  of  the  family.  After  1840,  many 
scenes  of  violence  nnd  bloodshed  were  -witnessed  on  these  lands,  growing  out  of  disputes 
•with  tenants,  when  they  wore  called  upon  to  pay  even  the  most  nominal  rent  that  was 
demanded.  Social  and  political  questions  arose  and  produced  two  strong  parties.  The 
opposition  shown  by  the  tenantry  was  termed  Anti-Kentism,  Conciliatory  measures  were 
finally  proposed  by'  which  the  tenants  were  allowed  to  buj-  the  land,  and  obtain  a  title  in 
fee-simple.  In  time  the  whole  estate  will  thus  pass  into  the  hands  of  numerous  new  own 
ers.  These  angry  disputes  have  already  become  items  of  past  history.— [Lossing. 

t  The  nature  of  feudal  laws  may  be  illustrated  by  a  single  example:  William,  the 
Xorman  Conqueror  of  England,  divided  the  land  of  that  country  into  parts  called  baronies, 
and  gave  them  to  certain  of  his  favorites,  who  became  masters  of  the  conquered  people  on 
their  estates.  For  these  and  certain  privileges,  the  barons,  or  masters,  were  to  furnish  the 
king  with  a  stipulated  amount  of  money  and  a  certain  number  of  soldiers  when  required. 
"The  people  had  no  voice  in  this  matter,  nor  in  any  public  a  flairs,  and  were  essentially 
slaves  to  the  barons.  Out  of  this  state  of  things  originated  the  exclusive  privileges  yet 
,:2iijoycd  by  the  nobility  of  Europe.— [Ibid. 


44  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

granted  June  17,  1697,  to  Adolph  Philipse,  *  a  merchant  of" 
New  York.  As  shown  by  the  patent  it  included  Pollepel's  Island, 
and  contained  a  little  more  land  than  is  now  comprised  by  Put 
nam,  the  extreme  northwest  corner  being  retained  in  DUCHESS- 
in  order  to  adapt  the  dividing  line  to  the  topography  of  the 
country. 

Rhinebeck  Patent,  granted  June  17,  1703,  to  Henry  Beek- 
man,  was  located  on  the  Hudson  River,  within  the  limits  of 
the  present  towns  of  Rhinebeck  and  Red  Hook.  The  land 
granted  to  Peter  Schuyler,  Governor  of  New  York,  called  the 
Magdalen  Island  Purchase,  the  lands  purchased  of  the  Widow 
Paulding  and  her  children  by  Dr.  Samuel  Staats,  and  all  the 
land  granted  to  Adrian,  Roosa,  and  Cotbe,  were  likewise  in 
cluded  in  these  two  towns. 

Beekman's  Patent,  granted  June  25,  1703,  to  Henry  Beek- 
man,  included  the  present  towns  of  Beekman,  Pawling  and 
Dover,  except  the  Oblong,  Union  Vale  and  a  portion  of 
Lagrange. 

Little  or  Upper  Nine  Partners'  Patent,  granted  April  ioth. 
1706,  to  Sampson  Boughton  and  others,  embraced  very  nearhr 
the  territorial  limits  of  the  towns  of  Milan  and  Pine  Plains,, 
and  a  portion  of  Northeast. 

THE    OBLONG. 

By  charter  of  1662,  the   territory  of  Connecticut  extended 

*  Adolph  Philipse  died  in  1749,  without  issue,  leaving  his  estate  to  his  Nephew,. 
Frederick  Philipse.  The  latter  had  five  children,— Frederick,  Philip,  Susai]iiah,-Mary  an«J  • 
Margaret.  Frederick  was  disinherited,  Margaret  died  when  young,  and  the  property  was 
divided  among  the  remaining  three.  Philip  left  a  widow,  who  married  one  Oglevie ;  Susan 
nah  married  Beverly  Kobinson,  and  Mary  married  Cpl.  Itoger  Morris.  On  the  7th  of  Feb- 
1754,  the  Patent  was  divided  into  nine  lots,  the  division  and  allotment  of  which  can  bc- 
understood  by  reference  to  the  appendix  in  this  Avork.  On  the  14th  of  January,  1758.  previons- 
1o  the  marriage  of  Mary,  a  deed  of  marriage  settlement  was  executed,  by  which  her  estate 
was  vested  in  such  children  as  might  be  born  under  the  marriage,  reserving  only  to  herself 
and  husband  a  life  interest  in  the  property.  When  Kobinson  and  Morris  and  their  wives 
were  attainted,  their  property  was  sold,  chiefly  to  former  tenants.  In  1809,  John  Jaeol* 
Astor  bought  the  heirs  of  Morris  in  this  property  for  £20,000.  The  State,  to  protect  those- 
who  held  title  from  the  Commissioners  of  Forfeiture,  passed  a  law,  April  16,  1827,  directing 
five  suits  to  be  prosecuted  to  judgment  in  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  S.  Dist.  of  N  Y.,  and 
presented  by  writs  of  error  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  U.  S.  for  review  and  final  decision.  • 
If  against  the  defendants,  the  State  agreed  to  pay  $450,000  in  5  per  cent,  stock,  redeemable 
at  pleasure,  and  if  the  decision  included  the  improvements  that  had  b»en  made  by  occupants 
$250.000  more.  Three  suits  were  tried,  each  resulting  in  favor  of  Astor,  when  the  Comp 
troller  was  directed  to  issue  stock  for  the  full  amount,  with  costs.  The  amount  issued  wa* 
$561,500.  Few  suits  have  been  tried  in  the  State  involving  larger  interests  to  greater  num 
bers,  or  which  were  arjjued  with  more  ability  than  this.  In  the  suit  against  James  Carver 
the  counsel  for  the  plantiff  were  Messrs  Oakley,  J.  O.  Hoffmai.,  Emmet,  Platt  and  Ogden  ; , 
for  the  defendant  were  Talcott,  (Attorney  Gen.)  Webster,  Van  liureu,  Ogden,  IlonVmse  • 
and  Cowles. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  45 

westward  to  the  "South  Sea,"  and  by  patent  granted  in  1664, 
the  territory  of  the  Duke  of  York  was  bounded  east  by  the 
Connecticut  River.  This  gave  rise  to  conflicting  claims. 
Commissioners  were  sent  over  in  1664  to  settle  the  controversy, 
when  it  was  agreed  that  the  line  should  run  "  from  a  certain 
point  on  Long  Island  Sound  north-northwest  to  the  Massachu 
setts  line,"  under  the  impression  that  this  line  would  be  parallel 
to  the  Hudson  Paver,  and  twenty  miles  from  it.  At  that  time 
the  country  north  of  the  Sound  was  an  unknown  land,  and  its 
geographical  features  little  understood ;  hence  the  manifest 
misconception,  for  such  a  course  would  strike  the  river  below 
West  Point. 

When  the  error  was  made  apparent  both  parties  agreed  to 
rectify  it,  and  another  commission  was  sent  over.  But  the 
people  who  had  settled  on  the  lands  defined  by  that  boundary 
near  the  Sound,  very  earnestly  desiring  to  retain  their  civil  con 
nection  with  the  Connecticut  colony,  it  was  agreed  by  that 
colony  to  cede  to  New  York  an  equivalent  in  territorial  extent 
to  the  present  towns  of  Greenwich,  Stamford,  New  Canaan 
a«d  Darien,  an  area  twelve  miles  by  eight — 61,440  acres. 
The  agreement  was  completed  and  subscribed  by  the  commis 
sioners  at  Dover,  on  the  i4th  of  May,  1731,  after  the  entire 
survey  had  been  made  by  them,  and  the  monuments  set  up. 

This  Equivalent  Land,  cr  Oblonr,  rs  it  is  now  generally 
called,  was  a  strip  of  land  580  rods  in  width,  extending  along 
the  east  side  of  the  Counties  of  DUCHESS,  Putnam,  and  the 
north  part  of  Westchester,  comprising  61,440  acres.  This  strip 
was  divided  into  two  tiers  of  square  lots,  called  five-hundred- 
acre  lots,  though  exceeding  that  amount.  A  Patent,  embracing 
this  territory,  was  granted  to  Thomas  Hawley  and  others,  and 
allotments  made  to  individuals  of  the  company,  and  by  them 
sold  to  emigrants,  "  who  received  a  guarantee  of  title  from  the 
Colonial  Government."  It  was  the  security  of  this  title  that 
•caused  these  lands  to  be  eagerly  sought  after.  The  Crown  also 
issued  a  patent  for  these  lands  to  Joseph  Eyles  and  others,  an 
.English  Land  company,  who  endeavored  to  maintain  their 


46  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

claims ;  the  litigation  was  brought  to  an  end  by  the  war  of  the 
Revolution. 

The  survey  was  made  by  running  a  random  line  from  a 
given  point  to  the  Massachusetts  boundary,  and  the  true  bound 
ary  between  New  York  and  Connecticut,  found  by  perpendicu 
lar  surveys  from  this  random  line.  This  accounts  for  the  fact 
that  the  monuments  that  mark  the  boundary  between  the  two 
States  are  not  in  a  true  line  ;  which  has  excited  more  or  less 
controversy  for  many  years,  and  is  not  even  yet  settled.  The 
Governor  of  Connecticut,  in  a  recent  message,  called  the 
attention  of  the  Legislature  to  this  matter. 

Livingston's  Manor,  patented  July  22,  1686,  three  years 
after  the  organization  of  DUCHESS,  was  included  in  the  County 
until  1717,  when  it  was  taken  off  and  annexed  to  Albany 
County.  The  patent  of  this  Manor  conferred  upon  Robert 
Livingston,*"  the  patentee,  feudal  privileges,  and  imposed  an 
annual  quitrent  of  "28  shillings.  The  Manor  contained  160,- 
240  acres,  and  included,  very  nearly,  the  territory  now  embraced 
in  the  Towns  of  Clermont,  Germantown,  Livingston,  Gallatin, 
Taghkanick,  Ancram  and  Copake,  in  Columbia  County.  It 
contained  two  purchases:  The  Livingston  purchase,  obtained 
of  the  Mohegan  Indians  in  July,  1683,  and  the  Taghkanick 
purchase,  obtained  August  loth,  1685.  In  1701  there  were 
but  four  or  five  houses  on  the  Manor.  From  and  after  1716  it 
was  represented  by  a  member  in  the  General  Assembly. 

In  June,  1736,  Hon.  Cadwallader  thus  writes  to  President 
Clarke,  in  relation  to  the  frauds,  &c.,  made  use  of  in  obtaining 
patents : — "  It  is  very  difficult  for  the  King's  officers,  who  live 
in  the  Provinces,  to  guard  against  frauds  in  petitioning  for 
lands  described  by  natural  limits,  such  as  brooks,  hills,  &c.. 
&c.,  though  actual  surveys  be  made  previous  to  the  grant, 
because  the  names  of  such  being  in  the  Indian  tongue,  are 
known  to  few  Christians,  so  that  the  proprietors  are  sometimes 
tempted  to  put  those  names  upon  the  places  that  they  think 

*  Kobert  Livingston,  ancestor  of  the  Livingston  family  in  this  County,  was  an  emi 
grant  from  Scotland,  and  was  connected  by  marriage  with  the  Kensselaer  and  the  Schnyler 
families. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  47 

more  convenient  for  them.  Now,  sir,  if  it  be  so  difficult  for 
the  officers  who  live  on  the  spot  to  prevent  abuse,  how  much 
greater  must  it  be  at  such  a  distance  as  England  is  from  us, 
and  how  great  will  the  temptation  be  to  commit  frauds.  This 
method  of  granting  land  in  England  must  be  of  great  preju 
dice  to  the  settlers  of  the  country  and  the  improvement  of 
uncultivated  lands/' 


COUNTY  ORGANIZATION. 


UCHESS  County  was  organized  Nov.  i,  1683.  It  was 
provisionally  attached  to  Ulster,  because  of  its  few 
inhabitants,  until  1713,  when  it  was  represented  sepa 
rately  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province.  The 
original  act  defines  its  boundaries  to  be  "  from  the  bounds  of 
the  County  of  Westchester,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Highlands, 
along  the  east  side  as  far  as  Roeliff  Jansen's  Kill,  [now  Liv 
ingston's  Creek,]  and  east  into  the  woods  twenty  miles."  In 
1717,  Livingston's  Manor  was  taken  from  its  northern  part, 
and  in  1812  Putnam  County  was  organized  and  taken  from  its 
southern  portion,  reducing  its  area  to  765  miles,  its  present 
dimensions. 

The  first  civil  divisions  of  the  County  were  established 
Dec.  1 6,  1737.  By  aid  of  General  Assembly,  it  was  then  sep 
arated  into  three  Divisions :  South  Division,  extending  from 
below  the  Highlands  to  Wappingers  Creek ;  the  Middle  Divi 
sion,  from  the  latter  to  Cline  Sopas  (Little  Esopus)  Island  ; 
and  the  North  Division,  from  this  point  to  the  northern  border 
of  the  County.  Each  Division  elected  a  Supervisor. 

PRECINCTS. 

The  municipal  regulations  of   a  Precinct  were  much  the 
48 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  49 

same  as  those  of  a  Town.  At  first,  while  the  County  was  but 
sparsely  settled,  the  territorial  limits  of  Precincts  were  quite 
extensive  ;  but  as  the  population  increased,  it  wras  found  con 
venient  to  sub-divide  them.  It  would  hardly  be  of  interest  to 
the  general  reader  to  specify  the  boundaries  of  all  the  Precincts 
that  have  been  erected  within  the  County,  even  if  it  were 
practicable. 

By  act  of  Dec.  16,  1737,  the  present  area  of  Putnam 
County,  except  the  Oblong,  was  styled  South  Precinct,  and  in 
December,  1743,  it  was  extended  to  the  Connecticut  line.  It 
is  also  mentioned  in  early  records  as  Fredericksburgh  Precinct. 
March' 24,  1772,  this  territory  was  divided  into  Southeast  Pre 
cinct,  comprising,  nearly,  the  present  Towns  of  Patterson  and 
Southeast ;  Philipse  Precinct,  now  Putnam  Valley  and  Philips- 
town  ;  while  the  remainder,  or  Carmel  and  Kent,  retained  the 
name  of  Fredericksburgh  Precinct. 

Beekmans  Precinct*,  formed  Dec.  16,  1737,  was  bounded 
nearly,  by  the  geographical  limits  of  Pawling  and  Dover  except 
the  Oblong,  Union  Vale  and  part  of  Lagrange.  Pawling  Pre 
cinct,  including  the  Towns  of  Pawling  and  Dover,  was  set  off 
from  Beekmans  Precinct  December  3ist,  1768. 

Rombout  and  Fishkill  Precincts  embraced  the  Fishkills  and 
a  part  of  Lagrange. 

Rhinebeck  Precinct,  including  Rhinebeck  and  Red  Hook, 
and  Poughkeepsie  Precinct,  were  formed  December  i6th,  1737. 

North  Precinct  comprised  territory  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  county.  Northeast  Precinct  was  formed  from  it  December 
1 6th,  1746,  and  embraced  the  Little  or  Upper  Nine  Partners' 
tract. 

Crom  Elbow  Precinct  included  territory  between  North 
and  Beekmans  Precinct,  and  extended  from  the  Hudson  River 
to  the  Connecticut  line.  Amenia  Precinct  was  taken  from  it 
March  2oth,  1762. 

Charlotte  Precinct  just  previous  to  the  Revolution,  com- 


*  South,  Beekmans.  Crom  Elbow  and  North  Precincts  were  extended  across  to  tht 
Connecticut  line  December  17,  174-:!. 


50  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

prised  Stanford,  Clinton  and  Washington,  and  was  settled 
about  1750. 

A  general  organization  act  was  passed  March  yth,  1788, 
dividing  the  State  into  fourteen  counties,  which  were  sub 
divided  into  townships,  instead  of  Precincts.  By  that  act 
DUCHESS  comprised  twelve  towns,  viz :  Amenia,  Beekman, 
Clinton,  Fishkill,  Northeast,  Pawling,  Poughkeepsie,  Rhine- 
beck,  Washington,  Kent,  Philipstown  and  Southeast,  the  three 
last  named  being  now  included  in  Putnam  County. 

Further  changes  have  been  made  since  that  time,  and 
there  are  now  nineteen  towns  and  one  incorporated  city, 
comprised  within  the  County. 


MILITARY  HISTORY. 


;f  HE  1 9th  of  April,  1775,  was  a  memorable  day  in  the 
history  of  the  Colonies.  On  that  day,  upon  Lexington 
Common,  in  Massachusetts,  was  the  first  patriot  blood 
shed.  The  people  were  already  irritated  almost  beyond 
endurance  by  the  oppressive  acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  as 
well  as  the  disdain  with  which  that  body  treated  their  most 
earnest  protests  ;  and  when  the  news  of  the  massacre  of  seven 
of  their  countrymen  was  heralded  throughout  the  country  by 
the  swiftest  messengers,  one  sentiment  seemed  to  pervade  the 
hearts  of  the  people — that  of  uniting  in  armed  resistance 
against  oppression.  The  storm  had  burst,  and  every  day  was 
adding  fearful  intensity  to  its  force.  The  farmer  left  his  plow 
in  the  furrow ;  *  the  mechanic  dropped  his  chisel,  and  the 
student  threw  aside  his  books ;  and  shouldering  their  muskets 
sought  the  patriot  army  and  enrolled  themselves  in  its  honored 
lists.  A  few,  from  motives  of  self-interest,  or  awed  at  the 
desperate  undertaking  of  coping  with  the  armed  power  of 
Great  Britain,  were  zealous  partisans  of  the  King. 

Ten  days  after  the  bloody  tragedy  at  Lexington,  the  people 
of  the  city  of  New  York  called  a  public  meeting.  At  that 

*  This  is  said  to  be  literally  true  in  the  case  of  Gen.  Putnam,  who,  when  he  received 
the  news  from  Lexington  was  plowing  in  the  field  ;  stripping  the  harness  from  the  horse, 
lie  mounted  upon  his  back,  and  was  off  for  the  field  of  action  without  even  bidding  his  fam 
ily  farewell. 

51 


52  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

meeting  they  formed  a  general  association,  adopted  a  pledge, 
and  transmitted  a  copy  thereof  to  every  county  in  the  State 
for  signatures. 

The  object  of  this  pledge  was  to  secure  unanimity  and  har 
mony  of  action  in  the  ranks  of  the  lovers  of  liberty,  and  also 
to  ascertain  who  could  be  relied  on  in  the  expected  struggle : 
in  a  word,  to  commit  the  people  to  one  side  or  the  other.  To 
sign  the  pledge  was  to  sign  their  own  death-warrant  if  they 
failed ;  and  to  refuse  to  sign  was  to  draw  upon  themselves  the 
hatred  and  distrust  of  the  patriots.  The  most  zealous  Whig 
could  but  regard  the  issue  as  doubtful,  with  but  one  chance  in 
many  in  his  favor.  But  the  men  of  that  age  were  schooled  to 
danger  and  difficulty,  and  they  had  made  up  their  minds  to  die 
rather  than  submit. 

It  may  be  expected  the  zeal  of  the  patriots  could,  ill  brook 
the  sentiments  of  their  Tory  neighbors.  Thus  were  the  feel 
ings  of  enmity  engendered  between  members  of  the  same 
community,  and  often  of  the  same  family  ;  which  frequently 
..culminated  in  the  shedding  of  blood.  * 

THE     PLEDGE. 

'k'  Persuaded  that  the  salvation  of  the  rights  and  liberties  of 
America  depend,  under  God,  on  the  firm  union  of  its  inhabi 
tants  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the  measures  necessary  for  its 
safety,  and  convinced  of  the  necessity  of  preventing  anarchy 
.and  confusion  which  attend  a  dissolution  of  the  powers  of  gov 
ernment,  WE,  the  Freemen,  Freeholders,  and  Inhabitants  of 
DUCHESS,  being  greatly  alarmed  at  the  avowed  design  of  the 
Ministry  to  raise  a  revenue  in  America,  and  shocked  by  the 
bloody  scene  now  acting  in  Massachusetts  Bay,  do  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  resolve  never  to  become  slaves,  and  do  associ 
ate,  under  all  the  ties  of  religion,  honor,  and  love  to  our 
country,  to  adopt  and  endeavor  to  carry  into  execution 
whatsoever  measures  may  be  recommended  by  the  Continen- 


*  For  an  account  of  these  local  feuds  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapters  rela'.ing  t< 
the  several  towns  in  the  body  of  this  work. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  53 

tal  Congress,  or  resolved  upon  by  our  Provincial  Convention, 
for  the  purpose  of  preserving  our  constitution  and  of  opposing 
the  several  arbitrary  acts  of  the  British  Parliament,  until  a 
reconciliation  between  Great  Britain  and  America,  on  consti 
tutional  principles  (which  we  most  ardently  desire)  can  be 
obtained  ;  and  that  we  will  in  all  things  follow  the  advice  of 
our  General  Committee  respecting  the  purposes  aforesaid,  the 
preservation  of  peace  and  good  order  and  the  safety  of 
individuals  and  property." 

As  before  stated,  a  copy  was  sent  to  every  county  in  the 
State.  Committees  were  appointed,  who  were  to  thoroughly 
work  up  the  territory,  and  report  to  the  Association  the  names 
of  those  who  subscribed  to  the  pledge,  together  with  a  list 
(called  the  black  list)  of  those  who  refused. 

On  the  1  5th  day  of  August,  1775,  a  return  was  made,  at 
the  house  of  Jacob  Griffin,  in  DUCHESS  County,  of  the  names 
of  502  persons  who  signed,  and  soon  after  of  261  who  did 
not. 

On  the  23d  of  the  same  month,  a  return  was  made  in  Fish- 
kill,  by  the  Committee,  Dirck  G.  Bririkerhoff,  Chairman,  of 
the  names  of  252  persons  who  signed  in  Beekmans  Precinct, 
and  of  134  who  refused. 

Of  signers  in  Poughkeepsie,  during  June  and  July  of  that 
year,  a  list  of  213  names  appears;  also  a  list  of  82  who 
refused. 

Returns  were  also  sent  in  from  Northeast  Precinct,  Amenia, 
Rhinebeck  and  Charlotte  Precincts.  The  whole  number  of 
'"Associators"  within  the  county  was  1820  ;  whole  number  refus 
ing  to  sign  was  964.  (See  appendix.) 

A  few  subscribed  with  certain  limitations. 


I  do  agree  to  the  above  Association  so  far  that  it  doth  not 
interfere  with  the  oath  of  my  office,  nor  my  allegiance  to  the 
King.  ISAAC  SMITH. 

Not  to  infringe  on  my  oaths. 

ABRAHAM    BOCKEE. 

This  may  certify  to  all  people  whom  it  may  concern  that  I, 


54  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  subscriber,  am  willing  to  do  what  is  just  and  right  to 
secure  the  privileges  of  America,  both  civil  and  sacred,  and  to 
follow  the  advice  of  our  reverend  Congress,  so  far  as  they  do 
the  word  of  God  and  the  example  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  hope, 
in  the  grace  of  God,  no  more  will  be  required. 

June  8th,  1775.  JOHN  GARNSEY. 

The  following  serve  to  show  the  continual  alarms  and  dan 
gers  that  harassed  the  people  of  that  day,  when  neither  property 
nor  life  was  for  a  moment  safe. 

Resolutions  calling  out  the  Militia   of  Westchester,  Duchess  and 

Albany.     In  Convention  of  Representatives  of  State  of  New 
York.     Fishkill,  Dec.  21,  1776. 

Whereas,  It  appears  highly  probable  that  the  enemy's  army 
meditate  an  attack  upon  the  passes  of  the  Highland  on  the 
east  side  of  the  Hudson  River,  and  the  term  of  enlistment  of 
the  Militia  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Clinton  expires  on  the 
first  of  this  month,  and 

Whereas,  His  Excellency,  Gen.  Washington,  has  warmly 
recommended  to  this  State  to  exert  themselves  in  procuring 
temporary  supplies  of  Militia 

Resolved,  That  the  whole  Militia  of  Westchester,  Duchess. 
and  part  of  Albany  be  forthwith  marched  to  North  Castle,  in 
Westchester  county,  well  equipped  with  arms  and  ammunition, 
and  furnished  with  six  days'  provisions,  and  blankets,  and  a  pot 
or  camp  kettle  to  every  six  men,  except  such  persons  as  the 
field  officers  shall  judge  cannot  be  called  into  service  without 
greatly  distressing  their  families,  or  who  may  be  actually  en 
gaged  in  the  manufacture  of  saltpetre,  or  of  shoes  and  clothing 
for  the  army. 

Resolved,  That  the  Militia  be  allowed  Continental  pay  ra 
tions,  and  that  such  men  as  cannot  furnish  themselves  with 
arms  shall  be  supplied  from  the  public  stores. 

The  commanders  of  regiments  were  empowered  to  hire  or 
impress  as  many  teams  as  were  necessary  for  transportation  of 
baggage. 

•  Commissary-Gen.  Trumbull  was  notified   to  make   timely 
provision  for  the  subsistence  of  said  Militia. 

Col.  Cheevers,  Commissary  of  Ordnance,  was  applied  to  for 
a  loan  of  small  arms  for  those  destitute. 

In  1777,  while  Burgoyne  was  threatening  the  northern  part 
of  the  State,  a  considerable  body  of  the  Tories  of  DUCHESS 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  55 

County  were  collected  at  Washington  Hollow,  and  made  a  for 
midable  demonstration  of  their  hostility.  An  expedition  was 
set  on  foot  to  break  up  the  gang.  A  company  of  fifty  or  sixty 
started  from  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  was  joined  on  the  way  by 
others,  until  the  party  numbered  two  hundred.  They  halted 
for  the  night  a  little  north  of  the  Hollow,  and  in  the  morning 
made  an  attack  on  the  Tories.  Some  escaped,  but  thirty  or 
forty  of  them  were  made  prisoners,  and  were  sent  to  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  where  they  were  kept  in  close  confinement  for 
two  years.* 

ARMY  MOVEMENTS,   REMINISCENCES,  ETC. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  DUCHESS,  previous  to  1812,  em 
braced  the  territory  now  included  in  Putnam  county.  The  his 
tory  of  this  whole  section,  therefore,  up  to  that  date,  properly 
belongs  to  the  county  which  forms  the  subject  of  this  volume, 
and  will  be  so  treated  in  these  pages. 

During  the  troublous  times  of  our  early  history,  DUCHESS 
County  was  frequently  the  theatre  of  the  movements  of  armed 
forces,  but  no  battle  is  recorded  as  having  taken  place  within 
her  limits. 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  French  and  Indian  War,  Lord 
Louden  passed  through  the  County  with  troops  and  baggage  on 
his  way  north  to  attack  the  French  outposts.  The  old  post 
road  leading  through  the  Highlands  was  built  by  his  direction. 
Previous  to  this  there  was  only  a  path  used  by  Indians,  leading 
from  Westchester  to  Fishkill. 

It  is  recorded  that,  about  this  time,  a  detachment  of 
soldiers  from  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  passed  through 
Dover  and  Amenia,  likewise  to  reinforce  the  troops  designed 
to  operate  against  the  French. 

,A  considerable  detachment  of  the  American  army  lay  en 
camped  in  Fishkill  during  the  campaign  of  1777,  and  after 
ward  at  different  times.  Gen.  Putnam  was  in  command  a  part 
of  the  time,  and  was  succeeded  by  Gen.  Parsons. 

*  History  of  Sharon. 


56  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

During  the  year  [1777]  that  Burgoyne  was  trying  to  force 
his  way  down  the  Hudson,  Gen.  Washington  moved  three 
brigades  into  the  limits  of  Patterson  (now  in  Putnam  Co.), 
where  they  were  encamped  in  order  to  reinforce  Gates  had  he 
been  forced  to  retreat,  and  check  the  enemy. 

About  the  year  1778  a  portion  of  the  American  forces 
were  stationed  in  the  present  town  of  Pawling.  Gen.  Washing 
ton  had  his  headquarters  there  a  short  time. 

In  1780,  a  detachment  of  troops  occupied  a  line  of 
barracks,  called  the  "  Hempstead  Huts,"  located  in  what  is 
now  Philipstown  ;  they  were  capable  of  accommodating  2000 
men,  and  as  late  as  1850  the  chimneys  were  yet  standing,  the 
huts  having  been  burned. 

After  the  battle  of  Monmouth,  in  the  summer  of  1778, 
that  portion  of  the  American  army  that  crossed  the  Hudson, 
not  long  after  that  memorable  battle,  was  distributed  in 
winter  encampments  along  the  Highlands,  from  West  Point  to 
Danbury.  Putnam  was  given  the  command  at  D anbury 
(burned  about  this  time  by  Lord  Tryon),  and  Gates  was  sent 
farther  east.  By  forming  this  line,  which  communicated  with 
another  line  west  of  the  Hudson,  it  was  hoped  to  pervert  any 
movement  of  the  British  troops  to  rescue  the  prisoners  captured 
by  Gates  at  Saratoga.  These  were  about  taking  up  their  line 
of  march  for  Virginia,  and  their  route  was  north  of  the  Ameri 
can  cantonments.  Entering  our  county  at  Amenia,  they 
passed  through  Verbank,  Arthursburg  and  Hopewell,  reaching 
the  Hudson  River  at  Fishkill  Landing,  and  crossed  over  to 
Newburgh.  From  the  23d  of  September  to  the  close  of 
November,  after  the  prisoners  had  passed,  Gen.  Washington 
had  his  head-quarters  in  Fredricksburgh  Precinct,  now  included 
in  the  present  towns  of  Patterson,  Carmel  and  Kent. 

About  a  mile  north  of  the  Westchester  line,  at  the  main 
entrance  to  the  Highlands  in  Philipstown,  is  situated  Conti 
nental  Village.  During  the  Revolution  this  place  was  guarded 
by  American  troops,  and  two  small  forts  erected  for  its  defense,. 
the  remains  of  which  are  yet  to  be  seen.  It  was  burnedr 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  57 

during  the  month  of  October,  1777,  by  a  detachment  of 
British  troops  on  their  way  to  co-operate  with  Burgoyne,  after 
Forts  Clinton  and  Mongomery  had  been  captured  by  the 
enemy.  During  the  same  month,  after  burning  Kingston,  the 
British  soldiery  landed  and  set  fire  to  several  buildings  at 
Rhinebeck  Flats. 

During  this  period,  a  number  of  fortifications  were 
constructed  at  different  points,  and  obstructions  placed  in  the 
river,  to  guard  against  British  invasion. 

At  the  Wiccopee  Pass,  about  four  miles  south  from  Fish- 
kill  Village,  two  small  forts  were  built  and  garrisoned  by 
American  troops,  to  guard  the  pass,  and  protect  the  military 
stores  at  Fishkill.  The  locations  of  these  forts  are  yet  plainly 
marked. 

From  Anthony's  Nose,  a  peak  1500  feet  high,  near  the  West- 
chester  line,  a  large  boom  and  chain  extended,  in  1776,  to 
Fort  Montgomery,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Hudson.  This 
was  the  second  obstruction  attempted  in  the  Hudson,  the  first 
being  at  Fort  Washington,  in  Westchester  County.  The  great 
length  of  this  chain  ;  the  bulk  of  logs  which  were  necessary  to 
support  it ;  the  immense  amount  of  water  which  it  accumulated 
and  the  rapidity  of  the  tide ;  all  these  were  difficulties  which 
for  a  time  baffled  all  efforts  of  the  engineers  to  perfect  it.  Its 
own  weight  parted  it  twice  ;  and  when  the  English  ship  struck 
it,  the  chain  broke  with  the  facility  of  a  piece  of  twine.  It 
was  built  at  the  Ringwood  (N.  J.)  Iron  Works,  and  its  con 
struction  exhausted  the  public  treasury,  costing  ^50,000, 
Continental  money.  Its  links  were  made  of  iron  bars  two 
inches  thick,  and  was  over  1800  feet  in  length. 

A  third  chain  was  stretched  across  from  Fort  Constitution 
to  West  Point.  The  links  weighed  from  100  to  150  pounds 
each,  and  the  entire  chain  weighed  186  tons.  Its  length  was 
1500  feet,  and  was  buoyed  up  by  large  spars  placed  a  few  feet 
apart,  secured  by  strong  timbers  framed  into  them,  and  firmly 
attached  to  the  rocks  on  both  shores.  In  the  fall  it  was  drawn 
on  shore  by  a  windlass,  and  replaced  in  the  spring.  It  was 


.58  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

never  broken  by  the  enemy.  T\vo  of  the  spars  with  their 
connecting  links  are  preserved  at  Washington's  Headquarters 
at  Newburgh,  and  several  links  of  the  great  chain  may  be  seen 
at  the  laboratory  at  West  Point.* 

A  fourth  obstruction  consisting  of  spars,  pointed,  and  their 
ends  connected  by  iron  links,  extended'  across  from  Pollepel's 
Island  to  the  west  shore. 

Fort  Constitution  f  was  erected  on  Constitution  Island 
[Martlaer's  Rock]  in  1775,  the  west  side  of  which  is  formed  of 
steep  precipices,  and  which  is  situated  in  a  sharp  bend  of  the 
river  opposite  \Vest  Point.  Other  fortifications  were  built  on 
the  east  shore  of  the  Hudson :  two  redoubts  on  Redoubt  Hill, 
called  North  and  South  Redoubt ;  two  on  Sugar  L'oaf  Moun 
tain,  and  one  on  Anthony's  Nose  Mountain. 

In  1777,  this  county  was  for  a  time  in  possession  of  the 
enemy.  During  the  autumn  of  that  year  a  British  force  of 
3000  men,  under  Gen.  Vaughan,  was  sent  up  the  river  to 
co-operate  with  Burgoyne.  The  presence  of  this  force  terrified 


*  In  the  Artillery  Laboratory  at  West  Point  are  deposited  several  interesting-  trophies 
and  relics  of  the  Devolution.  In  the  center  of  one  group  is  a  large  brass  mortar,  mounted, 
taken  from  the  British  when  Wayne  captured  Stony  Point,  two  small  brass  mortars 
captured  from  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga,  and  a  portion  of  the  great  chain  at  Constitution 
Island. 

The  iron  of  which  this  chain  was  constructed  was  mainly  wrought  from  ore  of  equal 
parts,  from  the  Sterling-  and  Long- Mines,  in  Orange  Count.".  It  was  manufactured  by 
Peter  Townshend,  of  Chester,  at  the  Stirling  Iron  Works,  in  the  same  county,  situated 
about  25  miles  back  from  West  Point.  The  engineer  of  this  work  was  Capt.  Thomas 
Mackin,  and  was  completed  about  the  middle  of  April,  1778.  and  on  the  1st  day  of  May 
stretched  across  the  river  and  secured.  Col  Timothy  Pickering,  accompanied  by  Capt. 
Mackin,  arrived  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Townshend  late  on  Saturday  night  in  March  of  that 
year,  to  engage  him  to  construct  it.  Townshend  readily  agreed  to  perform  the  work,  and 
the  party  set  out,  in  the  midst  of  a  violent  snow  storm,  for  the  Stirling  Works.  At  day 
light  on  Sunday  morning  the  forges  were  in  operation.  New  England  teamsters  carried 
the  links,  as  fast  as  manufactured,  to  West  Point,  and  in  the  space  of  six  weeks  the  chain 
was  completed.  Its  weight  was  one  hundred  and  eighty  tons. 

When  Benedict  Arnold  was  arranging  plans  for  the  surrender  of  West  Point  this 
chain  became  an  object  of  his  special  attention.  A  few  days  before  the  discovery  of  his 
treason  he  wrote  a  letter  in  a  disguised  hand  and  manner  to  Andre,  informing  him  that 
lie  had  weakened  it  by  ordering  a  link  to  be  taken  out  and  carried  to  the  smith,  under 
pretense  that  it  needed  repairs,  and  assured  his  employer  that  the  links  would  not  bu 
replaced  before  the  forts  would  be  in  possession  of  the  enemy. 

t  Fort  Constitution  and  its  outworks  were  quite  extensive,  and  cost  about  $25.000. 
Remains  of  the  fort  and  batteries  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  Island. 


Plan  of  Fort  Constitution 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  59 

the  inhabitants.  For  ten  days  after  passing  the  barriers  of  the 
Highlands,  they  amused  themselves  by  burning  and  plundering 
the  houses  of  the  Whigs  along  the  river.  The  Livingston 
Mansion,  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson  one-fourth  mile  south 
of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  still  bears  the  marks  of  a  cannon- 
shot  fired  into  it  during  that  expedition.*  After  the  surrender 
of  Burgoyne,  this  hostile  fleet  set  out  on  its  return,  and  this 
section  of  the  country  was  freed  from  their  presence. 

DUCHESS  has  furnished  some  of  the  most  brilliant  and  use 
ful  actors  in  the  early  history  of  our  country.  Such  were 
Montgomery,  the  hero  of  Quebec,  the  Schencks,  and  others  of 
imperishable  renown. 

Among  the  old  buildings  closely  associated  with  the  most 
stirring  events  of  our  country's  history,  may  be  mentioned  the 
Wharton  House,  the  Dutch  Stone  Church,  the  English  Church 
and  the  Verplank  House,  in  the  town  of  Fishkill ;  the  Livings 
ton  .Mansion  and  the  Van  Kleek  House,  in  Poughkeepsie ;  the 
Beekman  House  in  Rhinebeck  ;  the  Quaker  Church  in  Paw 
ling  ;  and  St.  Philip's  Chapel  and  the  Robinson  House  in 
Philipstown. 

St.  Philip's  Chapel,  so-called  in  the  Revolution,  says  Blake 
in  his  History  of  Putnam  Co.,  is  the  Episcopal  Church  near 
Garrisons,  which  was  built  in  1770  by  Col.  Beverly  Robinson, 
and  was  used  as  a  barrack  during  the  Revolution. 

The  Robinson  House  was  built  by  Beverly  Robinson  f 
about  1750,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  British  army,  and 
son-in-law  of  Adolph  Philipse,  proprietor  of  Philipse  Patent. 

In  the  center  building  is  the  large  dining-room  where  the 
traitor,  with  his  wife,  and  two  of  Washington's  aids-de-camp 
were  at  breakfast,  when  a  messenger  dashed  up  to  the  door 
and  handed  him  a  letter,  which  the  stupid  Jamieson  had  for 
warded  by  express  to  Arnold,  informing  him  of  the  capture  of 


*  See  chapter  devoted  to  the  town  and  city  of  Poughkeepsie. 

t  Beverly  Robinson  took  sides  with  the  mother  country,  and  his  property  was  confis 
cated  and  sold  by  the  Commissioners  of  Forfeiture.  He  moved  his  family  to  New  York, 
and  accepted  a  Brigadier-General 's  Commission  in  the  British  army.  His  family  never 
returned  :  but  it  is  said  that  when  the  enemy  moved  up  the  Hudson  alter  the  fall  of  Fort 
Montgomery,  he  visited  his  home  to  which  he  was  destined  never  more  to  return. 


60  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Andre  and  the  discovery  of  the  papers.  This  house  has  been 
kept  from  dilapidation  and  decay  by  repairs  when  needed,  but 
in  no  way  has  it  been  changed  from  its  original  appearance. 
"  The  same  low  ceiling,  large  and  uncovered  joists,  the  same 
polished  tiles  around  the  fire-places,  and  the  absence  of  all 
ornament  which  marks  the  progress  of  modern  architecture, 
preserve  complete  the  interest  which  the  stirring  incidents  of 
that  period  have  hung  around  the  Robinson  House." 

Enoch  Crosby,  the  original  of  Harvey  Birch,  in  Cooper's 
Spy,  was  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Carmel,  and  was  elected  a 
deacon  of  the  Gilead  Church  *  of  that  town.  He  died  about 
the  year  1830,  in  the  town  of  Southeast. 

"  The  Spy  Unmasked,"  a  small  thin  volume  by  Capt.  H. 
L.  Barnum,  contains  memoirs  of  P^noch  Crosby,  taken  in 
short-hand  from  Crosby's  own  lips.  Some  discredit  the  work ; 
but  Lossing  asserts  on  the  assurance  of  Doctor  White,  whose 
father  was  well  acquainted  with  Crosby,  that  the  narrative  of 
Barnum  is  substantially  correct.  It  contained  the  veritable 
incidents  which  were  the  foundation  of  the  most  thrilling  inci 
dents  of  that  powerful  romance,  "The  Spy,"  and  was 
intended  mostly  for  private  distribution  among  the  numerous 
relatives  of  the  hero. 

During  his  infancy  his  parents  resided  in  Southeast,  and 
his  childhood  was  passed  in  the  midst  of  that  picturesque- 
region.  In  the  romance  the  "  Spy"  is  represented  as  being 
nearly  fifty  years  of  age,  collecting  his  information  under  the 
guise  of  a  pedlar,  and  making  his  reports  personally  to  General 
Washington,  with  whom  he  had  secret  interviews  in  the  caves 
and  recesses  of  the  mountains  in  the  neighborhood ;  but  at 
that  period  Crosby  was  only  about  25  years  of  age,  and  had 
served  an  apprenticeship  as  a  shoemaker  before  the  breaking 
out  of  the  War  of  Independence.  He  served  occasionally  as 
an  enlisted  soldier  in  the  regular  service;  was  one  of  the  one 
hundred  men  who  in  1775  marched  to  Lake  Champlain,  and 
engaged  in  the  battles  in  that  quarter  until  Quebec  was 
stormed.  After  his  return  he  remained  quiet  for  a  while,  and 
was  then  employed  in  the  "  secret  service"  to  obtain  informa 
tion  of  the  movements  of  small  expeditions  sent  out  by  Sir 
Henry  Clinton  to  collect  forage,  and  gather  recruits  from  the 

*  This  society  was  organized  in  the  vicinity  of  Carmel  village  about  the  commence 
ment  of  the  Revolution.  They  worshiped  in  a  log  building  until  1792,  when  a  more 
commodious  building  was  erected. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  6  I 

Tories  of  the  Neutral  Ground.  Emissaries  holding  commissions 
from  British  sources,  whose  doings  were  cloaked  under  a 
pretended  neutrality,  were  actively  and  successfully  engaged  in 
organizing  the  Loyalists  into  bands  to  join  the  Royal  army  in 
New  York.  He  was  several  times  taken  prisoner,  and  as  often 
escaped  from  custody ;  which  at  last  excited  the  suspicions  of 
the  Tories.  Deeming  it  unsafe  to  mingle  with  them  longer,  he 
joined  the  detachment  of  the  American  army  under  Heath, 
then  stationed  in  the  Highlands. 

Crosby  was  a  witness  at  court  in  New  York  City  in  1827, 
and  was  recognized  by  an  old  gentleman  who  introduced  him 
to  the  audience  as  the  original  of  Harvey  Birch.  The  fact 
become  noised  abroad.  The  Spy,  dramatized,  was  then  in 
course  of  performance  at  one  of  the  theatres ;  Crosby  was 
invited  to  attend  ;  his  acceptance  was  announced ;  and  that 
evening  a  crowded  house  greeted  the  old  soldier. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  he  took  up  his  abode  at  or  near 
the  place  where  he  spent  his  childhood.  A  recent  writer  in  the 
Fishkill  Standard  thus  speaks  of  him  : 

"  What  knowledge  1  personally  have  of  the  prototype  of 
the  '  Spy'  is  limited  to  a  very  short  period  in  the  first  decade 
of  my  life  ;  and  the  venerable  man  himself  was  upon  the  very 
precincts  of  that  unknown  country  from  which  no  tidings  are 
ever  transmitted.  He  was  residing  with  his  son  upon  his  farm 
about  two  miles  southeast  of  Carmel  village,  in  Putnam  County. 
A  portion  of  the  farm  borders  upon  the  er.st  bran  :h  of  the 
Croton,  and  it  has  lately  been  taken  by  the  Croton  Water 
Board,  of  New  York,  to  be  submerged  by  the  waters  cf  the  new 
reservoir  now  in  process  of  construction  in  that  vicinity." 

From  Salem,  Andre  was  brought  to  the  Red  Mills,  in  the 
town  of  Carmel  and  was  lodged  at  night  in  the  house  of 
James  Cox.  While  here,  two  soldiers  were  stationed  at  each 
door  and  two  at  each  window  of  the  apartment.  The  follow 
ing  is  said  to  have  occurred  while  at  this  house :  "  A  little 
child  lay  asleep  in  its  cradle.  Andre  stepped  near,  and  the 
child,  which  had  just  awoke,  looked  up  to  him  and  smiled. 
His  feelings  were  touched  ;  and  in  tones  of  melancholy  and 
tenderness  he  said  :  '  Oh,  happy  childhood  !  we  know  your 
peace  but  once.  I  wish  I  were  as  innocent  as  you.'  "*  From 
the  Red  Mills  he  was  brought  by  way  of  Continental  village  to 


62  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  Robinson  House  under  guard  of  a  hundred  horse,  and 
from  thence  to  West  Point. 

A  grist  mill  was  filled  with  grain  at  the  Red  Mills,  for  the 
supply  of  the  army,  and  soldiers  were  stationed  there  to  guard 
it. 

The  notorious  Joshua  Hett  Smith,  to  whose  house  Arnold 
conducted  Andre  after  their  midnight  interview  at  the  foot  of 
Long  Clove  Mountain,  was  arrested  at  Fishkill  and  brought  to 
the  Robinson  House  a  short  time  previous  to  the  arrival  there 
of  Andre.  He  secreted  the  latter  all  day,  furnished  him  with 
a  coat,  saddle  and  bridle,  accompanied  him  to  Pine's  Bridge, 
and  giving  him  some  Continental  money,  left  him. — Six 
miles  belowT  here  Andre  was  arrested.  Smith  was  tried  before 
a  court-martial,  and  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at  Goshen,  Orange 
County,  from  which  he  escaped  into  British  lines. 

During  the  years  1779  and  80,  Washington  frequently 
crossed  the  Hudson  from  West  Point,  inspecting  the  outposts, 
and  visiting  the  Eastern  States.  Daniel  Haight  kept  tavern 
on  the  cross-road  leading  to  the  Peekskill  and  Coldspring 
Turnpike,  in  Philipstown.  The  Commander-in-Chief  was  in 
the  habit  of  stopping  at  "  Haight's  Tavern"  to  rest  himself  and 
suite  in  passing  to  and  from  Continental  Village  and  the  east. 
Mr.  Haight  said  he  never  knew  Washington  to  commence  a 
conversation  unless  first  spoken  to,  or  he  desired  something  to 
be  brought  to  him.  Calling  at  the  tavern  one  day,  as  he 
entered,  the  servant  girl  ran  up  stairs,  and  when  half  way  up, 
fell. — Washington  broke  into  a  hearty  laugh,  and  turning 
around,  he  said  to  his  host,  "It  is  the  first  time  I  ever  saw  a 
person  fall  up  stairs."  Mr.  Haight  used  to  remark  that  was 
the  first  and  only  time  he  saw.  the  Commander-in-Chief  laugh. 

The  Robinson  House,  around  which  the  stirring  incidents 
of  the  Revolution  have  woven  such  an  interesting  and  melan 
choly  interest,  is  situated  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Philips- 
town,  about  400  yards  from  the  Hudson.  It  is  about  two 

*  While  here,  and  looking  in  a  mirror  in  his  room,  he  saw  a  hole  in  the  arm-pit  of  his 
coat,  and  perceiving  that  the  officer  in  command  observed  it  also,  lie  smiled,  and  said  he 
presumed  Gen.  Washington  would  give  him  a  new  coat. 


HISTORY     OF     DUCHESS     COUNTY.  63 

miles  southeast  of  West  Point,  and  four  miles  south  from  the 
village  of  Cold  Spring.  Its  halls  have  been  hallowed  by  the 

tread  of  Wash 
ington,  Knox, 
Greene  Put-, 
nam,  Steuben, 
Kosiusko,  Par- 
sons,  Heath, 
McDougal 
and  Lafayette; 
and  it  also 

held  the  traitor  Benedict  Arnold.  It  was  here,  in  the  upper 
back  room  of  the  main  building,  that  Arnold  completed  the 
drawings  and  specifications  that  were  designed  to  aid  the 
enemy  in  obtaining  possession  of  West  Point. 

In  1756,  Colonel  George  Washington  visited  his  firm  friend 
Beverly  Robinson,  and  announced  an  intention  of  remaining 
his  guest  for  a  time.  A  negro  attendant  was  ordered  to  bring 
in  his  portmanteau,  additional  fuel  was  cast  into  the  broad  and 
cheerful  fireplace,  an  extra  bottle  of  wine  was  placed  upon  the 
table,  and  Col.  Washington  was  duly  installed  as  a  choice 
claimant  of  unrestrained  hospitality.  Seated  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Robinson,  and  overwhelmed  with  attention,  the  visitor 
exhibited  signs  of  disquiet  and  dissatisfaction.  His  uneasiness 
became  so  apparent  that  his  entertainers  endeavored  to  rally 
him,  or  at  least,  to  ascertain  its  cause.  At  length,  an  idea 
shot  into  the  mind  of  the  hostess.  Hastily  leaving  the  apart 
ment,  she  soon  returned,  accompanied  by  a  beautiful  young 
lady,  whom  Washington,  with  countenance  beaming  joyfully 
arose  to  greet  with  becoming  respect.  The  young  lady  was 
Mary  Philipse,  sister  of  Mrs.  Robinson,  and  daughter  of  the 
owner  of  the  Philipse  estate. 

Strange  to  say,  the  time  of  her  appearance  and  the  period 
of  the  return  of  Washington's  vivacity  were  coincident ;  per 
haps  it  was  only  accidental.  Midnight  found  this  young  lady 
and  the  Virginia  Colonel  alone,  and  in  deep  conversation. 


64  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Daylight  found  them  still  together.  The  Colonel,  smitten  by 
the  graces  and  accomplishments  of  a  lady  as  beautiful  as 
Nature's  rarest  works,  was  endeavoring  to  win  her  heart.  He 
made  his  confession,  but  the  lady  hesitated.  At  last  she 
informed  Washington,  in  set  terms,  that  she  loved  another  !  In 
other  words,  she  refused  him  !  The  greatest  of  modern  men 
was  vanquished,  and  by  a  woman. 

Years  rolled  on,  and  the  two  again  met  in  the  old  Beverly 
mansion.  A  few  days  before  the  execution  of  Andre,  Washing 
ton  received  a  letter  from  his  old  friend  and  retainer,  Col. 
Beverly  Robinson,  requesting  a  private  interview.  The  request 
was  granted.  Late  at  night,  Mr.  Robinson,  accompanied  by 
a  figure  closely  muffled  in  a  cloak,  was  admitted  to  the 
General's  apartment.  The  two  men,  for  a  moment  or  two, 
gazed  at  each  other  in  silence,  and  then  abruptly  embraced. 
Suddenly  disengaging  himself,  Washington  said  : 

"  Now,  Sir,  your  business." 

"  It  is  to  plead  for  Andre." 

Washington  assured  him  that  his  determination  was  fixed, 
and  that  Andre  must  certainly  suffer  the  penalty  due  his 
offense.  Nothing  would  avail.  "  I  have  one  more  argument," 
said  Mr.  Robinson,  "  behold  my  friend  !" 

The  heavy  cloak  which  enveloped  the  mysterious  stranger 
fell  to  the  floor,  exposing  the  mature  figure  of  Mrs.  Morris,  the 
"  Mary"  whom  he  had  so  unsuccessfully  wooed  years  before. 
Her  name  was  uttered  with  a  start  by  Washington;  but 
instantly  recovering,  he  said  :  "  This  trifling  is  beneath  your 
station,  and  my  dignity :  I  regret  that  you  must  go  back  to 
Sir  Henry  Clinton  with  the  intelligence  that  your  mission  has 
proved  fruitless.  See  that  these  persons  are  conducted  beyond 
the  lines  in  safety,"  continued  he,  throwing  open  the  door  and 
addressing  one  of  his  aids. 

Abashed  and  mortified,  Mr.  Robinson  and  his  sister-in-law 
took  their  leave.  The  woman  had  gained  a  conquest  once, 
but  her  second  assault  was  aimed  at  a  breast  invulnerable. 

The  Co  nmander-in-Chief,  at  the  time  of  Andre's  capture, 


HISTORY  OF  DUGHESS  COUNTY.  65 

'was  on  his  way  from  Hartford,  and  charging  the  route  which 
he  had  first  proposed,  came  by  way  of  West  Point.  At  Fish- 
kill  he  met  the  French  Minister  M.  de  la  Luzerne,  who  had 
been  to  visit  Count  Rochambeau  at  Newport,  and  he  remained 
that  night  with  the  Mirister  Very  early  next  morning  he 
sent  off  his  luggage,  with  orders  to  the  men  to  go  with  it  as 
quickly  as  possible  to  "Beverly,"  and  give  Mrs.  Arnold  notice 
that  he  would  be  there  to  breakfast.  When  the  General  and 
his  suite  arrived  opposite  West  Point,  he  was  observed  to  turn 
his  horse  Into  a  narrow  road  that  led  to  the  river.  Lafayette 
remarked,  "  General,  you  are  going  in  a  wrong  direction  ;  you 
know  Mrs.  Arnold  is  waiting  breakfast  for  us."  Washington 
good-naturedly  replied:  "  Ah,  I  know  you  young  men  are  all  in 
love  with  Mrs.  Arnold,  and  wish  to  get  where  she  is  as  soon  as 
possible.  You  may  go  and  take  your  breakfast  with  her,  and 
tell  her  not  to  wait  for  me.  I  must  ride  down  and  examine 
the  redoubts  on  this  side  of  the  river."  The  officers,  however, 
with  the  exception  of  two  of  the  aids,  remained.  When  the 
aids  arrived  at  Beverly,  they  found  the  family  waiting  ;  and 
having  communicated  the  message  of  Gen.  Washington, 
Arnold's  family  and  the  two  aids  sat  down  to  breakfast.  Before 
they  had  finished,  a  messenger  arrived  in  great  haste,  and 
handed  Gen.  Arnold  a  letter,  which  the  latter  read  with  evident 
emotion. 

The  self-control  of  the  soldier  enabled  Arnold  to  suppress 
the  agony  he  endured  after  reading  this  letter.  He  arose 
hastily  from  the  table;  told  the  aids  that  his  presence  was 
immediately  required  at  West  Point,  and  desired  them  so  to 
inform  General  Washington  on  his  arrival.  Having  first 
ordered  a  horse  to  be  ready,  he  hastened  to  Mrs.  Arnold's 
chamber,  and  there  with  a  bursting  heart  disclosed  to  her  his 
dreadful  position,  and  that  they  must  part,  perhaps  forever. 
Struck  with  horror  at  the  painful  intelligence,  this  fond  and 
devoted  wife  swooned,  and  fell  senseless  at  his  feet.  In  this 
state  he  left  her,  hurried  down  stairs,  and  mounting  his  horse, 
rode  with  all  possible  speed  to  the  river.  In  doing  so,  Arnold 

C2 


C6  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

did  not  keep  the  main  road,  but  passed  down  the  mountain, 
pursuing  a  by-path  thro'  the  woods,  and  which  is  now  called 
*'  Arnold's  Path,"  until  he  came  to  Beverly  Dock.  Here  he 
took  a  boat,  and  was  ro-.ved  to  the  Vulture.  He  marie  use  of 
a  white  handkerchief  in  passing  the  fortifications  along  the 
river,  which  created  the  impression  that  it  was  a  flag  boat.  On 
reaching  the  Vulture,  he  made  himself  known  to  Captain 
Sutherland,  and  then  calling  on  board  the  leader  of  the  boat 
men  who  had  rowed  him  off,  informed  him  that  he  and  his 
crew  were  prisoners  of  \var.  This  act  was  considered  so  con 
temptible  by  the  Captain,  that  he  permitted  the  man  to  go 
on  shore,  on  his  parole  of  honor,  to  procure  clothes  for  hirn- 
se'f  and  comrades.  This  he  did  and  returned  the  same  clay. 
When  they  arrived  in  New  York,  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  holding 
in  jiiit  contempt  such  a  wanton  act  of  meanness,  set  them  all 
at  liberty. 

When  General  Washington  reached  Beverly,  and  was 
informed  that  Arnold  had  departed  for  West  Point,  he  crossed 
directly  over,  expecting  to  find  him.  Surprised  to  learn  that 
he  had  not  been  there,  after  examining  the  works  he  returned. 
General  Hamilton  had  remained  at  Beverly,  and  as  Washington 
and  his  suite  were  walking  up  the  mountain  road,  from  Beverly 
Dock,  they  met  General  Hamilton  coming  hurriedly  towards 
them.  A  brief  an  J  suppressed  conversation  took  place  between 
Washington  and  himself,  and  they  passed  on  rapidly  to  the 
house,  wnere  the  papers  that  Washington's  change  cf  rente 
lia^  prevented  his  receiving,  had  been  delivered  that  morning  ; 
and  being  represented  to  Hamilton  as  of  pressing  importance, 
\vere  by  him  opened,  and  the  dreadful  secret  disclosed. 
Instant  measures  were  adopted  to  intercept  Arnold,  but  in  vain. 
General  Washington  then  communicated  the  facts  to  Lafayette 
and  Knox,  and  said  to  the  former,  more  in  sorrow  than  in 
anger,  "  Whom  can  we  trust  now  ?"  He  also  went  up  to  see 
Mrs.  Arnold  ;  but  even  Washington  could  carry  lo  her  no  con 
solation.  Her  grief  was  almost  frenzied  ;  and  in  its  wildest 
moods  she  spoke  of  General  Washington  as  the  murderer  of 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  67 

her  child.  It  seems  she  had  not  the  remotest  idea  of  her  hus 
band's  treason  ;  and  she  had  even  schooled  her  heart  to  feel 
more  for  the  cause  of  America  from  her  regard  for  those  who 
professed  to  love  it — her  husband's  glory  being  her  dream  of 
bliss. 

The  following  is  an  extract  of  a  letter  dated  Tappan,  Oct. 
2,  1780,  detailing  the  villainy  of  Arnold  and  the  capture  of  the 
unfortunate  Andre.  It  furnishes  an  interesting  account  of 
that  critical  incident  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  :* 

"  You  will  have  heard  before  this  of  the  infernal  villainy  of 
Arnold.  It  is  not  possible  for  human  nature  to  receive  a 
greater  amount  of  guilt  than  he  possesses  ;  perhaps  there  is 
not  a  single  obligation,  moral  or  divine,  that  he  has  not  broken 
through.  His  late  apostacy  is  the  summit  of  his  character. 
He  began  his  negotiations  with  the  enemy  to  deliver  up  West 
Point  to  them,  long  before  he  was  invested  with  the  command 
of  it,  and  while  he  was  still  in  Philadelphia,  after  which  he 
solicited  the  command  of  that  post,  for  the  ostensible  reason 
that  the  wound  in  his  leg  incapacitated  him  for  active  com 
mand  in  the  field.  It  was  granted  him  on  the  6th  of  August, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  assiduously  ripening  his  plans, 
but  the  various  positions  the  army  assumed,  prevented  their 
being  put  into  execution. 

"  On  the  right  of  the  2ist  ultimo,  he  had  an  interview  with 
Major  Andre,  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  British  Army.  This 
gentleman  came  on  shore  from  the  Vulture  man.of-war,  which 
lay  not  far  from  Tellers  Point,  to  a  place  on  the  banks  of  the 
river,  near  to  the  Haverstraw  Mountain,  where  he  met  Arnold, 
who  conducted  him  to  the  house  of  Joshua  H.  Smith  (the 
white  house),  within  our  lines,  and  only  two  miles  from  Stony 
Point.  They  arrived  in  the  house  just  before  day,  and  stayed 
there  until  the  next  evening,  when  Major  Andre  became 
extremely  anxious  to  return  by  the  way  he  came,  but  that  was 
impossible,  for  the  two  men  whom  Arnold  and  Smith  had 

•  The  letter  was  first  published  in  the  P.ostou  Gazette,  under  date  of  October  1C 
1780. 


68  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

seduced  to  bring  Andre  on  shore,  refused  to  take  him  back, 
It  then  became  necessary  that  he  should  return  to  New  York 
by  land.  He  changed  his  dress  and  name,  and  thus  disguised 
passed  our  posts  of  Stony  and  Verplancks  Points  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  22nd,  in  company  with  Joshua  H.  Smith;  he  lodged 
that  night  at  Crompond,  with  Smith,  and  in  the  morning  pro 
ceeded  alone  on  the  road  to  Tarrytown,  where  he  was  taken 
by  some  volunteers  about  fifteen  miles  from  "Kingsbridge. 
Andre  offered  them  any  sum  of  money,  and  goods,  if  they 
would  permit  him  to  escape,  but  they  declared  that  10,000 
guineas,  or  any  other  sum,  would  be  no  temptation  to  them. 
It  was  by  this  virtue,  as  glorious  to  America  as  Arnold's 
apostacy  is  disgraceful,  that  the  abominable  crime  of  the 
latter  was  discovered. 

"The  lads  in  searching  him,  found  concealed  under  his 
stockings,  in  his  boots,  papers  of  the  highest  importance,  viz  : 
Returns  of  the  ordnance  and  its  distribution  at  West  Point 
and  its  dependencies;  artillery  orders,  in  case  of  an  alarm; 
returns  of  the  number  of  men  necessary  to  man  the  works  at 
West  Point,  and  its  dependencies  ;  remarks  on  the  works  at 
West  Point,  with  the  strength  and  working  of  each  ;  returns 
of  the  troops  at  West  Point,  and  their  distribution;  state  of 
our  army,  &c.,  transmitted  by  General  Washington  to  Arnold, 
for  his  opinion,  which  state  had  been  submitted  to  all  the 
general  officers  in  the  carnp,  for  their  opinions.  Beside  these, 
it  appears  that  Arnold  had  carried  with  him  to  the  interview,  a 
general  plan  of  West  Point  and  its  vicinity,  and  all  the  works, 
and  also  particular  plans  of  each  work  on  a  large  scale,  all 
elegantly  drawn  by  the  engineer  at  that  post.  But  these  were 
not  delivered  to  Major  Andre,  and  from  their  requiring  much 
time  to  copy,  it  was  supposed  they  were  not  to  be  delivered 
until  some  future  period. 

"From  circumstances,  it  appears  that  it  was  not  Arnold's 
intention  to  have  deserted,  but  that  he  meant  to  be  taken  at 
his  post,  which,  from  the  disposition  of  its  troops,  it  was  easy 
to  have  seized.  General  Washington,  on  his  return  to  camp, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  69 

determined  to  visit  West  Point,  and  in  pursuance  of  that  plan, 
was  viewing  some  redoubts  which  lay  in  his  way  to  Arnold's 
quarters.  He  had  sent  out  servants  there,  and  Major  Shaw 
and  Dr.  McHenry  had  arrived,  and  were  at  breakfast  with  the 
traitor  when  he  received  intelligence  by  letter  of  Andre's  being 
taken.  His  confusion  was  visible,  but  no  person  could  divine 
the  cause.  He  hurried  to  his  barge  with  the  utmost  precipita 
tion,  after  having  left  word  that  he  was  going  over  to  West 
Point,  and  would  be  back  immediately.  This  was  about  ten 
in  the  morning. 

"The  General  proceeded  to  view  the  works,  wondering 
where  Arnold  could  be  ;  but  about  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  he  was  undeceived,  by  an  express  with  the  papers  taken 
on  Andre.  The  apostate  was  at  this  time  on  board  the 
Vulture,  which  lay  about  five  or  six  miles  below  Stony  and 
Verplancks  Points.  Major  Andre  was  brought  to  West  Point. 
A  board  of  general  officers  examined  into  his  case,  and  upon 
his  most  candid  confession,  were  of  opinion  that  he  was  a 
•spy,  and  according  to  the  usage  of  nations,  ought  to  suffer 
death.  Andre  enjoyed  a  high  reputation  in  the  British  army, 
was  of  the  most  polite  and  accomplished  manners,  and  was 
extremely  beloved  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton.  His  deportment 
while  a  prisoner  was  candid  and  dignified.  He  requested  no 
favor,  except  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  die  the  death  of  a 
•soldier,  and  not  on  a  gibbet.  Rigorous  policy  forbade  grant 
ing  a  favor  which  at  first  seems  immaterial.  An  army  sympa 
thised  in  the  misfortunes  of  the  Chesterfield  of  the  day.  But 
if  he  possessed  a  portion  of  the  blood  of  all  the  kings  on 
earth,  justice  and  policy  would  have  dictated  his  death.  The 
enemy,  from  hints  that  some  of  the  officers  dropped 
appeared  to  be  inclined  to  deliver  Arnold  into  our  hands  for 
Major  Andre.  But  they  afterward  declared  it  to  be  impossible. 
If  it  could  have  been  effected,  our  desire  to  get  Arnold  would 
have  rendered  the  exchange  easy  on  our  part. 

"The  British  army  are  in  the  utmost  affliction  on  account 
of  Major  Andre,  and  have  sent  repeated  flags  on  the  subject. 


70  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Yesterday  they  sent  General  Robertson,  Andrew  Elliott,  and 
William  Smith,  Esqrs.  The  two  latter  were  not  permitted  to 
land.  General  Green  met  General  Robertson  ;  he  had  noth 
ing  material  to  urge,  ;  but  that  Andre  had  come  on  shore 
under  the  sanction  of  a  flag,  and  therefore  could  not  be 
considered  as  a  spy ;'  but  that  is  not  true,  for  he  came  at  night, 
had  no  flag,  and  the  nature  of  his  business  was  totally 
incompatible  with  the  nature  of  a  flag.  He  also  said  they 
should  retaliate  on  some  people  at  New  York  and  Charlestown ; 
but  he  was  told  that  such  conversation  could  neither  be  heard 
nor  understood.  After  which,  he  urged  the  release  of  Andre 
on  motives  of  humanity,  and  because  Sir  Henry  Clinton  was 
much  attached  to  him  ;  and  other  reasons  equally  absurd." 

The   following  is   the  defence   read  by   Andre   before  the 
Court  which  condemned  him  to  death  as  a  spy: 

"  I  came  to  hold  a  communication  with  a  general  officer  of 
the  American  army,  by  the  order  of  my  o.vn  commander.  I 
entered  the  American  lines  by  an  unquestionable  authority — 
when  I  passed  from  them  it  was  by  the  same  authority.  I 
used  no  deception.  I  had  heard  that  a  provincial  officer  had 
repented  of  the  course  he  had  taken,  and  that  he  avowed  he 
never  meant  to  go  as  far  as  he  had  gone,  in  resisting  the 
authority  of  his  King.  The  British  Commander  was  willing  to 
extend  to  him  the  King's  clemency — yea,  his  bounty — in  hopes 
to  allure  others  to  do  the  same.  I  made  no  plans,  I  examined 
no  works.  I  only  received  his  communication,  and  was  on 
my  way  to  return  to  the  army,  and  to  make  known  all  I  had 
learned  from  a  general  officer  in  your  camp.  Is  this  the  office 
of  a  spy  ?  I  never  would  have  acted  in  that  light,  and  what  I 
have  done  is  not  in  the  nature  of  a  spy.  I  have  noted  neither 
your  strength  nor  your  weakness.  If  there  be  wrong  in  the 
transaction,  is  it  mine  ?  The  office  of  a  spy,  a  soldier  has  a 
right  to  refuse;  but,  to  carry  and  fetch  communications  with 
another  army,  I  never  heard  was  criminal.  The  circumstan 
ces  which  followed  after  my  interview  with  General  Arnold, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  71 

v.-e-e  not  in  my  power  to  control.     He  alone  had  the  manage 
ment  of  them. 

"  It  is  said  I  ro:le  in  disguise.  I  rode  for  security  incog, 
as  far  as  I  was  able,  but  other  than  criminal  deeds  induced  me 
to  do  this.  I  was  not  bound  to  wear  my  uniform  longer  than 
it  was  expedient  or  politic.  I  scorn  the  name  of  a  spy ; 
brand  my  offence  with  another  title,  if  it  change  not  my  pun 
ishment,  I  beseech  you.  It  is  not  death  I  fear.  I  am  buoyed' 
above  that  by  a  consciousness  of  having  intended  to  discharge 
my  duty  in  an  honorable  manner. 

'•  It  is  said  that  plans  were  found  with  me.  This  is  true, 
but  they  were  not  mine.  Yet  I  must  tell  you  honestly  that 
they  would  have  been  communicated  if  I  had  not  been  taken. 
They  were  sent  by  General  Arnold  to  the  British  commanders, 
and  I  should  have  delivered  them.  From  the  bottom  of  m/ 
heart  I  scorn  to  screen  myself  by  criminating  another  ;  but  r-'O 
fur  as  I  am  concerned,  the  truth  shall  be  told,  whoever  suffers,. 
It  was  the  allegiance  of  General  Arnold  I  came  out  to  secure, 
It  was  presumed  many  an  officer  would  be  glad  at  this  time 
to  retrace  his  steps  ;  at  least,  we  have  so  been  informed,  thai! 
I,  who  came  'out  to  negotiate  this  allegiance  only,  be  treated 
as  one  who  came  out  to  spy  out  the  weakness  of  a  cnmp  ?  If 
these  actions  are  alike,  I  have  to  learn  my  moral  code  ancv.v 

"  Gentlemen,  Officers,  be  it  understood  that  I  am  no  sup 
pliant  for  mercy  ;  that  I  ask  only  from  Omnipotence — not  from 
human  beings.  Justice  is  all  I  claim — that  justice  which  is 
neither  swayed  by  prejudice,  nor  distorted  by  passion,  but  that 
which  flows  from  honorable  minds,  directed  by  virtuous  defer- 
mirations.  I  hear,  gentlemen,  that  my  case  is  likened  to  that 
of  Capt.  Hale,  in  1775.  I  have  heard  of  him.  and  his  misfor 
tunes.  I  wish  that  in  a'l  that  dignifies  men,  that  adorns  and 
elevates  human  nature,  I  could  be  named  with  that  accom 
plished  but  unfortunate  officer.  His  fate  was  wayward,  and 
untimely  cut  oft",  yet  younger  than  I  now  am.  He  went  out, 
knowing  that  he  was  assuming  the  character  of  a  spy.  He 
took  all  its  liabilities  into  his  hand,  at  the  request  of  his  great 


72  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

commander.  He  was  ready  to  meet  what  he  assumed,  and  all 
its  consequences.  His  death  the  law  of  nations  sanctioned. 
It  may  be  complimentary  to  compare  me  to  him,  but  it  would 
be  unjust.  He  took  his  life  in  his  hand  when  he  assumed  the 
character  and  the  disguise.  I  assumed  no  disguise,  nor  took 
upon  myself  any  other  character  than  that  of  a  British  officer 
who  had  business  to  transact  with  an  American  officer. 

"In  fine,  I  ask  not  even  for  justice  ;  if  you  want  a  victim 
to  the  manes  of  those  fallen  untimely,  I  may  as  well  be  that 
victim  as  another.  I  have,  in  the  most  undisguised  manner, 
given  you  every  fact  in  the  case.  I  only  rely  on  the  proper 
construction  of  these  facts.  I  have  examined  nothing,  learned 
nothing,  communicated  nothing,  but  my  detention,  to  Arnold, 
that  he  might  escape  if  he  thought  proper  to  do  so.  This  was, 
as  I  conceived,  my  duty.  I  hope  the  gallant  officer,  who  was 
then  unsuspicious  of  his  general,  will  not  be  condemned  for 
the  military  error  he  committed. 

"  I  farther  state  that  Smith,  who  was  the  medium  of  com 
munication,  did  not  know  any  part  of  our  conference, 
except  that  there  was  necessity  for  secrecy.  He  was  counsel 
for  General  Arnold  in  various  matters,  but  was  absent  from  all 
interviews  I  had  with  him  ;  and  it  was  Smith  who  lent  me  this 
dress-coat  of  crimson,  on  being  told  that  I  did  not  wish  to  be 
known  by  English  or  Americans.  I  do  not  believe  that  he  had 
even  a  suspicion  of  my  errand.  On  me  your  wrath  should 
fall,  if  on  any  one.  I  know  your  affairs  look  gloomy  ;  but  that 
is  no  reason  why  I  should  be  sacrificed.  My  death  should  do 
you  no  good.  Millions  of  friends  to  your  struggle  in  England, 
you  will  lose,  if  you  condemn  me.  I  say  not  this  by  way  of 
threat ;  for  I  know  brave  men  are  not  awed  by  them — nor  will 
brave  men  be  vindictive  because  they  are  desponding.  I  should 
not  have  said  a  word  had  it  not  been  for  the  opinion  of  others, 
which  I  am  bound  to  respect. 

"  The  sentence  you  this  day  pronounce  will  go  down  to 
posterity  with  exceeding  great  distinctness  on  the  page  of  his 
tory  ;  and  if  humanity  and  honor  mark  your  decision,  your 
names,  each  and  all  of  you,  will  be  remembered  by  both 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  73 

nations  when  they  have  grown  greater  and  more  powerful  than 
they  now  are.  But  if  misfortune  befalls  me,  I  shall  in  time 
have  all  due  honors  paid  to  my  memory.  The  martyr  is  kept 
in  remembrance  when  the  tribunal  that  condemned  him  in  for 
gotten.  I  trust  this  honorable  court  believes  me,  when  I  say 
that  what  I  have  spoken  was  from  no  idle  fears  of  a  coward. 
I  have  done." 

The  following  copy  of  a  hurried  letter  to  a  forage  agent  in 
the  neighborhood,  bears  date  the  day  that  Washington  and 
Arnold  parted: 

To  Mr.  Jefferson,  Fredericksburgh,  N.  Y. 

Headquarters,  Rob.  House,  September,  iQth,  1780, 

SIR. — You  will  please  to  pick  out  of  the  horses  you  now 
have  in  your  custody,  or  which  you  may  hereafter  receive,  a 
pair  of  the  best  wagon  horses,  as  also  two  of  the  very  best 
saddle  horses  you  can  find  for  my  use.  You'll  send  them  to 
me  as  soon  as  possible. 

I  am,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  Servant, 

B.  ARNOLD,  M.  General. 

Jan.  7,  1777.  Capt.  James  Reed  petitions  to  be  relieved 
from  the  operation  of  the  rules  adopted  in  regard  to  the  trans 
portation  of  flour  to  the  army  at  the  eastward.  Capt.  Reed 
was  Assistant  Commissary,  and  was  directed  to  send  flour  for 
the  army  at  the  east,  but  was  hindered  by  a  certain  embargo 
on  flour  crossing  the  colony  line.  Judah  Swift  disregarded 
these  orders  of  the  Provincial  authorities,  and  sent,  in  the 
night,  two  sleighloads  of  flour  to  the  east  by  way  of  Kent.  On 
the  Kent  road,  near  the  colony  line,  the  drivers  encountered 
the  guard,  whom  they  overpowered.  The  object  of  this  embargo 
seems  to  have  been  to  prevent  the  flour  going  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  Trusty  persons  received  a  permit  to  go  with 
the  flour  to  certain  points,  and  in  several  cases  these  persons 
agreed  to  bring  back  a  load  of  salt. 

Feb.  7-15,1776.  Account  of  guns  delivered  to  Capt.  Child, 
-and  apprised  by  Dr.  Chamberlain,  C.  Marsh  and  C.  Atherton. 

£  S.          D. 

i   Gun  of  Stephen  Warren 3        o      o 

i   Gun  of  Levi  Orton. .  .  i      10      o 


74  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

£          s.       r». 

Gun  of  Jedidiah  Bump 2     15      o 

Gun  of  Benjamin  Delyno 2        o      o 

Gun  of  Peter  Chne i      15      o 

Gun  of  Nathan  Barlow 2       5      o 

Gun  of  Benjamin  Hall 2       o      o 

Gun  of  Sylvan  us  Nye 3      15       o 

Gun  of  Gershom  Reed 3      10      o 

Gun  of  Eliakim  Reed -. 3     10      o 

i    Pistol  of  Joseph  Pennoyer o     10      o 

The    following    are    extracts    from     Revolutionary    papers 
relating  to  the  county. 

DUCHESS  County,  3<1  December,  1776. 
Gentn. — Nothing  but  the  strongest  necessity  coul-i    induce 
us  to  trouble  you   with  an  application   of  so  extraordinary  a 
nature,    but   if  we   are   esteemed  worthy   your  confidence    as 
friends  to  our  struggling  country  our  sincerity  will  atone  for  what 
in  common  cases  might  appear  indecent.     Our  invaded  State 
has    not    only  been  an  object    of  the  special    designs  of   our 
common    enemy,   but    obnoxious    to    the    wicked,    mercenary 
intrigues  of  a  number  of  engrossing  jockies  who  have  drained 
this  part  of  the  State  of  the  article  of  bread  to  such  a  degree 
that  we  have  reason  to  fear  there  is  not  enough  left  for  the  sup 
port  of  the  inhabitants.     We  have  for  some  months  past  heard 
of  one  Helmes  who  has  been   purchasing  wheat  and  flour  in 
t'l  21 2  p  ir:s,  •v.th  vv'iic'i  t'i2  v  2!!  a  f  2^l;e  I  ir~  u  livjrsilly  dissiiited. 
This  man  with  us  is  of  doubtful  character,  his  conversations  are 
of   the  disaffected   sort  entirely.      Fie    has    now    moving  from 
Fishkill    toward    Newark  we  think  not  less  than  one  hundred 
barrels   of  flour,  for    which    he  says    he  has   your  permit,  the 
which  we  have  not  seen. — However,  we  have,  at  the  universal' 
call  of  the  people,  concluded  to  stop  the    flour    and    Helmes, 
himself,  uacil  this    express  may  return.     We    ourselves    think 
from  the  conduct  of  this  man  that  his  designs  are  bad. 
We  have  the  honor  to  be  your  humble  servts. 

HENRY  LUDINGTON. 
JOSEPH  CRANE,  Junr. 
JONATHAN  PADDOCK. 
ELIJAH  TOWNSEND. 
To  the  Honorable  the  Council  of  Safety  for  the  State  of  N.  Y.. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  7  5 

DUCHESS  COUNTY,  May  6th,  1776. 

Sir — It  having  been  represented  to  the  general  committee 
of  this  county  that  the  southern  regiment  of  militia  was  too- 
large  and  extensive,  containing  twelve  companies,  and  cover 
ing  a  space  of  country  upwards  of  thirty  mile  in  length,  we 
have  therefore,  not  only  because  in  other  respects  it  was 
expedient,  but  al^o  in  compliance  with  tie  resolution  of 
Congress  prohibiting  a  regiment  to  con  ist  of  more  than  ten 
companies,  divided  it,  and  instead  of  one  have  formed  the 
militia  in  that  quarter  into  two  regiments.  Enclosed  you  have 
the  descriptions  of  the  regiments,  together  with  a  list  of 
persons  nominated  for  field  officers.  As  this  part  of  our  militia 
will  remain  unregimented  till  the  officers  receive  their  com 
missions,  we  must  request  that  the  commissions  be  made  out 
as  soon  as  possible,  and  sent  to  the  Committee  in  Rombout's 
Precinct,  with  directions  to  forward  them  to  officers  immedi 
ately.  I  remain  (by  order  of  the  committee)  your  very  humble- 
servant.  EGBERT  BENSON,  Chairman. 

The  description  of  the  t'vo  above  regiments  was  as  follows: 

One  regiment  to  cons:st  of  all  the  militia  in  Pawling 
Preempt,  (except  the  northern  company,)  all  the  militia  in 
Sxitheist  Precinct,  and  all  the  militia  on  the  northern  and 
mid  lie  short  lots  in  Fre  lericksburgh  Product,  in  the  county 
of  Duchess.  John  Field,  Colonel — Andrew  Morehouse,  Lieut. 
Col. — Jonathan  Paddock,  ist  Major — Isaac  Tallman,  2nd 
Major — Isaac  Crane,  Adjutant — Reuben  Crosby,  Quarter 
Master. 

The  other  regiment  to  consist  of  all  the  militia  in  Frecler- 
icksburgh  Precinct,  (except  the  northern  nnd  middle  short 
lots)  and  all  the  militia  in  Phelps  (PIiili[/.e)  Precinct,  in  the 
county  of  Duchess.  Moses  Dusen bury  Co!.— -Henry  Ludding- 
ton,  Lieut.  Col. — Reuben  Ferriss,  ist  Major — Joshua  Nelson,. 
2nd  Major — Joshua  Myrick,  Adjutant — Solomon  Hopkins, 
Quarter  Master. 

[Letter  from  Joseph  Crane,  Chairman  Southeast  Precinct 
Coin,  to  Eg.  Benson] 


76  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Dear  Sir — Yesterday  I  saw  one  Allaby,  a  sergeant  of 
Captain  Dellman,  taken  prisoner  at  Ward's  with  Major  Dain. 
He  made  his  escape  from  the  guard  house  in  New  York  on  the 
evening  of  the  i5th  inst.  He  gives  a  favorable  account  of  the 
prisoners  taken  with  him.  *  *  Allaby  says  the  enemy  lost 
fourteen  in  the  action  at  Ward's,  six  of  those  they  carried  off 
wounded  died  between  Ward's  and  Williams',  and  the  seventh 
died  as  soon  as  they  reached  Valentine's.  Every  commissioned 
officer,  save  one  ensign,  was  killed.  On  their  arrival  at  King's 
Bridge,  the  commanding  officer  of  that  post  came  to  the  door 
of  his  lodgings,  when  the  prisoners  were  paraded,  and  said, 

"  well,  you  have  got  a  parcel  of  the  d d  rebels,  have  you  ?" 

4i  Yes,   but   we   have    paid  d d  dear  for  them.     I  am  the 

only  officer  left  alive,"  replied  the  surviving  ensign. 

He  further  tells  me,  that  the  day  before  he  left  New  York, 
he  read  in  the  papers  an  account  of  the  enemy's  loss  in  the 
Danbury  tour,  estimated  between  300  and  400  men,  and  that 
he  had  often  heard  them  say  to  one  another  that  the  Danbury 
route  had  been  more  expensive  to  them,  in  proportion  to  the 
number  of  their  troops,  than  the  Lexington  tour. 

We  are  now  expecting  fresh  visits  from  the  Tryonites.  A 
number  of  the  enemy's  ships  are  in  the  Sound.  Yesterday 
morning  upwards  of  twenty  of  them  drew  up  against  Fairfield, 
and  appeared  to  be  in  a  landing  posture.  The  alarm  reached 
us  by  12  o'clock  the  same  day,  but  by  night  we  were  informed 
theysoon  came  to  sail  again  and  went  westward  of  Norwalk. 
I  have  the  pleasure  to  assure  you  that  our  people  are  evidently 
better  disposed,  as  well  as  better  prepared  otherwise,  to  bid 
them  welcome,  than  ever  we  were  before,  and  the  general  say 
is  that  in  case  Tryon  is  not  gone  to  account  for  his  former 
murders,  'tis  hoped  he  will  "  again  grace  his  murderous  train 
with  his  presence,  and  happily  meet  what  Heaven  has  declared 
shall  be  the  fate  of  him  in  whose  skirts  shall  be  found  the 
blood  of  men."  Your  most  obedient, 

JOSEPH  CRANE. 

Morris  Graham,  Robert  R.  Livingston,  and  Egbert  Benson 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  77 

were  elected   deputies  to  represent   DUCHESS   County  in   the 
Provincial  Convention  held  at  New  York  city,  April  20,  1775. 


DUCHESS  COUNTY  COM..  August  18,  1775. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  in  each  Precinct  be  attended 
by  a  sufficient  guard  to  go  to  the  persons  called  Tories,  and  in 
a  friendly  manner,  request  them  to  part  with  their  firelocks  for 
the  use  of  the  Continental  Forces,  at  a  reasonable  price,  to  be 
affixed  by  one  of  the  Committee  and  a  person  to  be  elected 
by  the  person  parting  with  the  firelock,  and  in  case  of  their 
disagreement,  then  the  appraisement  to  be  made  by  a  third 
party  to  be  nominated  by  the  two  other  appraisers,  and  upon 
refusal,  to  take  such  firelocks  forcibly,  and  to  value  them,  and 
keep  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  persons  from  whom  such  fire 
locks  shall  be  taken,  together  with  the  value  of  each  firelock. 


Nov.  27,  1775,  three  men,  Jacobus  Ostrum,  Johannis 
Medlar,  and  Barent  Lavis,  were  ordered  to  be  taken  in  custody, 
and  confined  in  goal,  for  enlisting  men  in  DUCHESS  County  to 
join  the  King's  troops. 


Your  Committee  to  devise  ways  and  means  to  obtain  intel 
ligence  from  the  Committee  of  Safety  at  New  York  city  report : 

Resolved,  That  Uriah  Mitchell  and  Samuel  Duyckman  be 
employed  as  Ryders ;  Mitchell  to  set  out  from  Fishkill,  and 
Duyckman  from  New  York  the  same  day ;  meet  at  the  house 
of  John  Plagg,  this  side  Croton  River ;  exchange  mails,  return 
to  their  respective  stages  the  day  following,  so  as  to  arrive  as 
early  as  possible  on  that  day  ;  set  out  again  the  day  after,  to 
continue  as  long  as  the  state  shall  see  fit  to  employ  them,  at 
r6s.  per  day. 

In  July,  1776,  Richard  Cantillon  and  John  Parkinson,  pro 
posing  to  set  up  an  extensive  Linen  Manufactory  in  DUCHESS 
County,  to  provide  for  the  inhabitants  and  army,  petitioned 
that  twelve  men  and  themselves  be  exempted  from  being 
drafted  into  the  militia  when  called  into  service. 


The  Committee  of  the  County,  Egbert  Benson,  Chairman, 
ordered   that  an  account  of  salt  in  the  County  be  taken,  for- 


78  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

.bidding  any  person  to  sell  or  take  it  out  of  the  County  until 
further  orders.  The  officers  employed  to  take  the  account 
were  authorized  to  send  for  persons  and  examine  them  under 
oath.  Thomas  Storm  was  sent  to  the  State  Convention  to 
.inform  that  body  there  was  not  more  than  one  bushel  for  each 
family;  that  the  article  was  exceedingly  wanted  ;  that  the  com 
mittee  wanted  advice  whether  it  be  sold  and  distributed,  or 
;-sent  to  the  army. 
August  21,  1776. 

Li  Convention  of  Representatives  of  State  of  Nciv  York,\ 
FISHKILL.  Dec.,  21,  1776.          j 

The  whole  militia  of  Counties  of  Westchester,  DUCHESS, 
and  part  of  Albany  be  forthwith  marched  to  North  Castle, 
wjll  equipped  with  arms  and  ammunition,  and  furnished  with 
:six  days'  provisions  and  camp-kettle  to  every  six  men. 

FISHKILL,  January  15,  1777. 

We,  the  subscribers,  Mary  Hawley,  wife  of  Edward  Haw- 
ley,  and  Bridget  Morgan,  with  leave  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety,  about  to  repair  to  New  York,  do  severally,  solemnly 
swear  on  the  Holy  Evangelists  of  Almighty  God  not  to  give, 
communicate  or  convey  any  intelligence  either  by  speaking, 
writing,  or  otherwise,  relating  to  the  army  of  the  United 
American  States,  or  relative  to  the  State  of  New  York,  or  the 
controversy  now  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  the  said 
American  States,  to  any  person  or  persons  whomsoever,  and 
that  we  will  not  do  any  act,  matter  or  thing  to  the  prejudice  of 
said  States,  or  ether  of  them,  nor  convey  any  letter  or  writing 
without  leave  of  the  Committee  of  Safety,  after  their  inspection. 

MARY  HAWLEY, 
BRIDGET  MORGAN. 


1 1  General  Convention  DUCHESS  County  ,\ 
MARCH  25,  1777.          j 

The  within   Petitioner,  Lieut.  Col.  Birdsall,  is  considered 
"by  this  Committee  a  person  deserving  the  attention  of  the 


HISTORY  O7  D'JCHE.33  COUNTY.  J<) 

p'lblic,  and  comply  with  his  request  in  recommending  him  to 
the  Honorable  Convention  of  the  State.      The  farm  formerly 
in  possession  of  Mor.es  Northrup  and  that  of  Archibald  Camp 
bell  is  now  unoccupied,  and  will  very  well  suit  his  purposes. 
By  order  of  Committee. 

NATHAN  PIERCE,  Chairman. 


Isaac  Sheldon,  Theodore  Van  Wyck,  and  Henry  Living 
ston,  Jim.,  constituted  the  Committee  of  Sequestration  about 
the  year  1777. 


Nov.  7th,  1775,  an  alarm  was  given  to  the  effect  that  the 
Tories  of  DUCHESS  and  Westchester  threatened  to  visit  Orange 
County. 

The  convention  of  the  State,  in  session  at  Fishkill,  ordered 
prisoners  now  in  confinement  at  Peekskill,  for  thefts  and 
plu  i  Lvm^  tli.;  in'nVtrits  of  the  S'.ate,  to  goil  at  Poughkeepsie, 
there  to  remain  until  delivered  by  due  course  of  law. 


May  5th,  1777,  the  Convention  recommended  each  county 
to  orga  uze  a  Com.  of  Safety,  within  the  county,  to  guard  against 
intestine  divisions,  which  the  enemy  was  laboring  to  promote. 


At  an  early  period  during  the  Revolution,  one  sergeant  and 
fourteen  privates  from  each  regiment  within  the  county  were 
sent  to  Fishkill  to  erect  barracks.  Each  man  so  drafted  was 
to  furnish  himself  either  with  a  good  sufficient  spade,  shovel, 
stubbing  hoe,  felling  ax,  or  corn  hoe,  and  every  other  necessary 
for  his  accommodation. 

[Return  of  Militia  officers  for  Southeast  Precinct,  Duchess 
Co.  N.  Y.] 

SOUTHEAST  PRECINCT  COMMITTEE,  August  2ist,  1775. 

Pursuant  to  a  Resolution  of  Provincial  Congress,  Ordered 
that  Thomas  Baldwin,  Esquire,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Foster,  two 
of  the  members  of  this  Committee,  notify  the  Militia  of  this 


So  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Precinct,  consisting  of  one  Beat  (lately  commanded  by  Johrb 
Field,  as  Captain)  to  appear  on  the  25th  instant  at  the  place 
of  parade,  that  the  said  Militia,  under  the  direction  and  inspec 
tion  of  the  said  Baldwin  and  Foster,  may  arrange  themselves 
into  a  military  company,  agreeable  to  said  Resolution  of 
Congress.  That  said  Militia  do  then  and  there  make  choice 
of  military  officers  by  a  majority  of  votes,  to  take  the  command 
of  said  company,  and  that  the  said  Baldwin  and  Foster  make 
return  of  their  doings  to  the  chairman  of  this  Committee. 

JOSEPH  CRANE,  Chairman. 

Having  duly  executed  the  above  Order  of  Committee,  we 
hereby  certify  that  the  Company  of  Militia  of  said  Southeast 
Precinct,  agreeable  to  said  order,  did  assemble ;  and  they 
have,  by  a  fair  majority  of  votes,  made  choice  of  Commissioned 
Officers  to  take  command  of  said  company,  agreeable  to  the 
Resolution  of  Congress,  as  follows,  viz : — William  Mott, 
Captain ;  Benjamin  Higgins,  First  Lieutenant ;  Ebenezer 
Gage,  Second  Lieutenant ;  Nathaniel  Green,  Jun.,  Ensign. 
™  THOMAS  BALDWIN 

'  NATHANIEL  FOSTER. 


[Return  of  Minute-officers  in  Southeast  Precinct,  Duchess. 
County,  New  York.] 

SOUTHEAST  PRECINCT  COMMITTEE,  Sept.  22,  1775. 

Ordered,  that  those  persons  who  have  arranged  themselves. 
in  the  character  of  Minute-Men  in  this  precinct,  do  assemble 
themselves  on  the  26th  inst.,  in  order  to  choose  out  of  their 
Company  the  several  officers  which  agreeable  to  directions  of 
our  Congress,  are  to  command  such  companies ;  and  that 
Thomas  Baldwin,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Foster,  members 
of  this  committee,  do  attend  and  inspect  such  choice,  and 
make  return  thereof  to  the  chairman  of  this  Committee. 

JOSEPH  CRANE,  Chairman. 

SOUTHEAST  PRECINCT,  Sept.  26th,  1775. 
We  hereby  certify  that   agreeable  to  the  foregoing   order,, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  8 1 

the  Company  of  Minute-Men  referred  to  did,  on  the  26th  inst. 
assemble,  and  under  our  inspection,  make  choice  of  Joshua 
Barnum,  Jun.,  as  Captain;  William  Marsh,  First  Lieutenant  > 
Eliakim  Barnum,  Second  Lieut ;  Jonathan  Crane,  Ensign. 

THOMAS  BALDWIN, 
NATHANIEL  FOSTER. 

In  a  Plymouth  paper,  in  July,  1825,  appeared  the  following 
notice  of  an  application  for  a  pension  by  one  of  Arnold's 
bargemen,  detailing  the  manner  of  his  departure  from  "  Bev~ 
erly  Dock." 

"Application  was  made  this  week  in  this  town  for  assist 
ance  in  making  out  the  necessary  documents  for  a  pension  by 
one  of  the  bargemen  in  the  barge  that  conveyed  Gen'l  Arnold 
to  the  Sloop  of  War  Vulture.  He  was  bow-oarsmen  in  the 
boat,  next  in  rank  to  the  coxswain,  whose  name  was  James 
Larvey.  His  memory  is  remarkably  accurate,  and  his  veracity 
is  unquestioned.  The  day  before  the  flight  of  Arnold,  he 
brought  him  with  Major  Andre,  from  Lawyer  Smith's,  below 
Stony  Point,  to  the  General's  headquarters.  They  conversed 
very  little  during  the  passage.  The  General  told  his  aid,  who 
was  at  the  landing  when  they  arrived,  that  he  had  brought  up 
a  relative  of  his  wife.  Arnold  kept  one  of  his  horses  con 
stantly  comparisoned  at  the  door  of  his  quarters,  and  the  next 
morning,  after  breakfast,  fled  in  great  haste  with  the  coxswain 
close  behind  on  foot.  The  coxswain  cried  out  to  the  barge 
men  to  come  out  from  their  quarters,  which  were  hard  by,  and 
the  General  dashed  down  the  foot-path,  instead  of  taking  a 
circuit,  the  usual  one  for  those  who  were  mounted.  The  barge 
was  soon  made  ready,  though  the  General,  in  his  impatience, 
repeatedly  ordered  the  bowman  to  push  off,  before  all  the  men 
had  mustered.  The  saddle  and  holsters  were  taken  on 
the  barge,  and  Arnold,  immediately  after  they  had  pushed  off, 
wiped  the  priming  from  the  pistols,  and  primed  anew,  cocked 
and  half-cocked  them  repeatedly.  He  inquired  of  Collins 
if  the  men  had  their  arms,  and  was  told  that  the  men  came  in. 
such  haste  that  there  were  but  two  swords,  belonging  to  him- 

f 


"82  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

self  and  the  coxswain.  They  ought  to  have  brought  their 
arms,  he  said.  He  tied  a  white  handkerchief  to  the  end  of  his 
cane  for  a  flag  in  passing  the  forts.  On  arriving  at  the  Vulture 
he  took  it  off  and  wiped  his  face  The  General  had  been  down 
in  the  cabin  about  an  hour  when  the  coxswain  was  sent  for,  and 
by  the  significant  looks  and  laughing  of  the  officers,  the  men 
in  the  barge  began  to  be  apprehensive  that  all  was  not  right. 
He  very  soon  returned,  and  told  them  they  were  all  prisoners 
of  war.  The  bargemen  were  unmoved,  and  submitted,  as  to 
the  fortunes  of  war,  except  two  Englishmen,  who  had  deserted, 
and  who  were  much  terrified,  and  wept. 

"  The  bargemen  were  promised  good  fare  if  they  would 
enter  on  board  the  Vulture,  but  they  declined  and  were  hand 
cuffed,  and  so  remained  four  days.  Gen.  Arnold  then  sent 
for  them  at  New  York.  In  passing  from  the  wharf  to  his  head 
quarters,  the  two  Englishmen  shipped  on  board  of  a  letter-of 
marque,  then  nearly  ready  to  sail.  The  others,  five  in  number, 
waited  on  Arnold,  who  told  them  they  had  always  been  atten 
tive  and  faithful,  and  he  expected  they  would  stay  with  him. 
He  had,  he  said,  command  of  a  regiment  of  horse,  and  Lar- 
vey,  you,  and  Collins,  may  have  commissions,  and  the  rest 
shall  be  non-commissioned  officers.  Larvey  announced  that 
he  could  not  be  contented — he  would  rather  be  a  soldier  where 
he  was  contented,  than  an  officer  where  he  was  not.  The 
others  expressed  or  manifested  their  concurrence  in  Larvey's 
opinion.  He  then  gave  the  coxswain  a  guinea,  and  told  them 
they  should  be  sent  back.  At  midnight  they  were  conveyed  to 
the  Vulture,  and  the  next  day  sent  on  shore.  This  worthy 
and  intelligent  applicant  perfectly  remembers  Major  Andre's 
dress,  when  they  took  him  up  in  the  barge,  from  Smith's  house 
to  Arnold's  headquarters — blue  homespun  stockings — a  pair  of 
wrinkled  boots,  but  lately  brushed — blue  cloth  breeches,  tied 
at  the  knee  with  strings — waistcoat  of  the  same — blue  surtout, 
buttoned  by  a  single  button — black  silk  handkerchief  once 
around  the  neck  and  tied  in  front,  with  the  ends  under  the 
waistcoat,  and  a  flapped  hat." 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  83 

Joshua  Hett  Smith,  to  whose  house  Arnold  conducted 
Andre  after  their  midnight  interview  "  at  the  foot  of  Long 
Clove  Mountain,  near  the  low-water  mark,"  was  arrested  at 
Fishkill,  under  charge  of  being  in  complicity  with  the  treason 
of  Arnold.  He  was  tried  before  a  court-martial,  but  was  set 
at  liberty  on  the  plea  that  he  was  a  civilian,  and  therefore  out 
of  the  jurisdiction  of  a  court-martial.  He  was  soon  after 
arrested  by  a  civil  process,  and  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at 
Goshen,  Orange  County,  from  which  he  escaped,  and  returned* 
with  the  British  army  to  England.  Some  years  ago  he 
published  a  little  volume  entitled  "  Major  Andre,"  in  which  he 
gives  an  account  of  his  relations  with  Arnold,  his  arrest,  trial, 
and  imprisonment,  and  endeavors  to  show  he  knew  nothing  of 
the  real  business  between  the  British  Adjutant-General  and 
America's  great  traitor,  coupled  with  great  abuse  of  Washing 
ton,  Greene  and  other  patriots.  The  following  is  an  extract  of 
that  part  of  it  relating  to  his  arrest  at  Fishkill,  his  arrival  at  the 
*'  Robinson  House,"  and  his  interview  with  Washington  : 

''•  Having  given  him  (Andre)  directions  about  the  road  he 
was  to  take  upon  crossing  the  bridge,  with  a  message  to  my 
brother,  the  chief  justice,  whom  he  knew,  we  parted.  I  pro 
ceeded  on  my  way  to  Fishkill,  taking  Arnold's  headquarters  at 
the  Robinson  House  on  my  route ;  I  mentioned  to  Gen, 
Arnold  the  distance  I  accompanied  Mr.  Anderson,  which 
gave  him  apparently  much  satisfaction.  His  dinner  being 
ready,  I  partook  of  it,  and  in  the  evening  proceeded  to  Fishkill 
to  my  family.  Here  I  found  General  Washington  had  arrived 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  on  his  return  from  visiting 
Count  Rochambeau,  and  I  supped  with  him  and  a  large  retinue 
at  General  Scott's.  The  next  day  I  went  on  business  to 
Poughkeepsie,  and  returned  to  Fishkill  the  ensuing  evening. 
It  was  on  the  25th  of  September,  about  midnight,  that  the 
door  of  the  room  wherein  I  lay  in  bed  with  Mrs.  Smith,  was 
forced  open  with  great  violence,  and  instantly  the  chamber 
was  filled  with  soldiers,  who  approached  the  bed  with  fixed 
bayonets.  I  was  then,  without  ceremony,  drawn  out  of  bed 


84  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

by  a  French  officer  named  Govion  whom  I  recollected  to  have 
entertained  at  my  house  not  long  before,  in  the  suite  of  the 
Marquis  de  LaFayette.  He  commanded  me  instantly  to 
dress  myself,  and  to  accompany  him  to  General  Washington, 
having  an  order  from  the  General,  he  said,  to  arrest  me.  The 
house  was  the  residence  of  Col.  Hay,  who  had  married  my 
sister.  The  family  was  thrown  in  great  confusion ;  the 
females  especially  were  in  the  deepest  distress  ;  indeed  the 
shock  so  much  affected  Mrs.  Smith  that  she  never  fully 
recovered  from  it ;  and,  which,  added  to  my  subsequent 
sufferings,  was  the  cause  of  her  death.  I  perceived  that  any 
opposition  would  be  ineffectual.  Col.  Hay  desired  to  know 
for  what  cause  the  arrest  was  made  ;  to  which  Govion  would 
give  no  satisfactory  answer.  I  then  desired  the  privilege  of 
having  my  servant  and  one  of  my  horses  to  go  with  him  to 
General  Washingon,  at  Robinson's  house,  which  he  refused  ; 
and  I  was  immediately  marched  off  on  foot  a  distance  of 
eighteen  miles. 

"  At  length  on  my  arrival  at  Robinson's  house,  I  was 
paraded  before  the  door,  under  a  guard.  General  Washing 
ton  soon  afterward  came  to  a  piazza,  and  looked  sternly  and 
with  much  indignation  at  me  ;  my  countenance  was  the  index 
of  my  mind,  and  the  beautiful  lines  of  Horace  occurred  to  me, 
'  si  fractis  et  illabiter  orbis  inupaviclum  feriunt,  que  ruinae] 
etc.  On  his  retiring,  I  was  ordered  into  a  back  room,  and 
two  sentinels  placed  at  the  door.  After  as  much  time  had 
elapsed  as  I  supposed  was  thought  necessary  to  give  me  rest  from 
my  march,  I  was  conducted  into  a  room,  where  were  standing 
General  Washington  in  the  centre  and  on  each  side  Gen. 
Knox  and  the  Marquis  de  LaFayette,  with  Washington's  two 
aides-de-camp,  Cols.  Harrison  and  Hamilton. 

"  Provoked  at  the  usage  I  received,  I  addressed  General 
Washington,  and  demanded  to  know  for  what  cause  I  was 
brought  before  him  in  so  ignominious  a  manner  ?  The 
General  answered  sternly,  that  I  stood  before  him  charged 
with  the  blackest  treason  against  the  citizens  of  the  United 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  85 

States  ;  and  that  he  was  authorized,  from  the  evidence  in  his 
possession,  and  from  the  authority  vested  in  him  by  Congress, 
to  hang  me  immediately  as  a  traitor,  and  that  nothing  could 
save  me  but  a  candid  confession  who  in  the  army,  or  among 
the  citizens  at  large,  were  my  accomplices  in  the  horrid  and 
nefarious  designs  I  had  meditated  for  the  last  ten  days  past. 
I  answered  that  no  part  of  my  conduct  could  justify  the 
charge,  as  General  Arnold,  if  present,  would  prove ;  that  what 
I  had  done  of  a  public  nature  was  by  direction  of  that  General, 
and,  if  wrong,  he  was  amenable,  not  myself,  for  acting  agreea 
bly  to  his  orders. 

"  He  immediately  replied,  '  Sir,  do  you  know  that  Arnold 
has  fled,  and  that  Mr.  Anderson  whom  you  have  piloted  through 
our  lines  proves  to  be  Major  John  Andre,  Adjutant  General 
of  the  British  army,  now  our  prisoner  ?  I  expect  him  here 
under  a  guard  of  one  hundred  horse,  to  meet  his  fate  as  a  spy, 
and  unless  you  confess  who  were  your  accomplices,  I  shall 
suspend  you  both  on  yonder  tree,'  pointing  to  a  tree  before 
the  door.  In  a  short  time  I  was  remanded  into  the  room 
and  urged  to  a  confession  of  accomplices,  with  General 
Washington's  declaration  that  the  evidence  he  possessed  of  my 
being  a  party  was  sufficient  to  take  away  my  life. 

"Sometime  afterwards,  Col.  Hamilton  came  to  me,  and 
compassionately,  as  he  said,  recommended  me  to  declare  all  I 
knew  respecting  the  business  of  which  I  was  accused,  observing 
that  many  were  mistrusted,  who,  if  they  confessed,  would  be 
in  a  worse  situation  ;  but  as  he  supposed  this  was  not  the  case, 
I  had  now  a  chance  to  save  my  life,  and  for  the  sake  of  my 
family  I  ought  to  preserve  it — with  many  more  expressions  to 
the  same  effect. 

'  General  Washington  then  came  into  the  room,  and  ques 
tioned  Col.  Hamilton  why  lie  was  so  long  speaking  to  me  ? 
The  Colonel  replied,  '  General,  I  know  Smith  has  meant  well 
during  his  agency  in  this  transaction,  for  in  all  our  public 
meetings  in  New  York,  his  general  demeanor  spoke  a  spirit  of 
moderation,  nor  could  he  be  persuaded  to  any  other  opinion 


86  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

than  that  this  contest  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies 
would  be  compromised,  as  in  the  business  of  the  stamp  and 
other  acts  of  which  we  complained  to  the  British  Government 
in  our  petition  by  Gov.  Perm,'  etc. 

"  Gen.  Washington  then  said  in  a  gentle  tone  of  voice, 
'  Col.  Hamilton,  I  am  not  yet  satisfied ;  take  him  into  the  back 
room  ;  we  must  know  something  more  about  this  business.'  I 
was  then  conducted  into  the  recess  from  which  I  was  brought,, 
was  about  to  take  some  refreshment,  when  one  of  the  sentries, 
pausing  at  the  door,  vowed  that  if  I  touched  any  of  the  bis 
cuits  that  were  in  the  room,  he  would  shoot  me  dead.  The 
fact  was  the  room  was  a  kind  of  a  butlery,  in  which  Mrs. 
Arnold  had  placed  her  stores,  and  I  was  in  the  act  of  taking  a 
piece  of  the  biscuits.  I  made  no  reply  to  the  sentinel ;  but 
remained  nearly  two  hours  in  this  confinement,  when  I  heard 
the  tramp  of  a  number  of  horses  near  the  place  where  I  was 
confined,  and  soon  after  could  distinguish  the  voice  of  the 
unfortunate  Andre,  and  of  Gen.  Washington  and  his  suite,  who 
soothed  him  with  all  the  blandishments  that  his  education  and 
rank  demanded  ;  he  was  courted  with  a  smile  in  the  face,  when 
worse  than  a  dagger  was  intended  for  his  heart.  I  distinctly 
heard  Col.  Hamilton  say  to  a  brother  officer,  who  came  out  of 
the  same  room,  that  Major  Andre  was  really  an  accomplished 
young  man,  and  he  was  sorry  for  him,  for  the  General  was- 
determined  to  hang  him. 

"  It  was  nearly  dark,  when  a  very  respectable  young  gen 
tleman  entered  the  room,  and  politely  desired  me  to  accom 
pany  him.  I  was  in  hopes  this  was  a  prelude  to  rny  emanci 
pation,  and  I  requested  the  honor  of  his  name  ?  He  answered, 
'  It  is  Washington.'  I  said,  '  I  presume,  sir,  you  hold  the  rank 
of  Colonel.'  He  told  me  he  held  no  rank  at  all.  He  then 
conducted  me  to  the  back  part  of  Robinson's  house,  where 
there  were  two  horses,  desired  me  to  mount  one  of  them,  and' 
by  his  guidance  in  a  way  I  had  never  been,  we  soon  reached 
the  bank  of  the  river  opposite  West  Point.  Here  I  was 
delivered  to  the  custody  of  a  Capt.  Sheppard,  of  the  New 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.-  8y 

Jersey  Continental  troops,  and  did  not  observe  that  I  had  been 
guarded  by  a  troop  of  horse  until  I  was  placed  in  the  ferry 
boat,  and  saw  them  follow  Mr.  Washington  up  the  mountain ; 
two  boats  followed  us  composed  of  the  guard.  If  I  had  any 
inclinations  to  throw  myself  overboard,  I  was  so  well  guarded . 
that  I  am  certain  that  I  should  have  been  taken  out  of  the 
water ;  for  the  main  object  of  General  Washington  in  detain 
ing  and  trying  me,  was  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  General 
Arnold's  confederates  in  the  army,  as  well  as  in  Congress.  In 
fact,  this  defection  of  Arnold  had  excited  such  a  general  sus 
picion,  that  no  one  dared  trust  another  ;  and  nothing  but  exe 
crations  were  heard  from  hut  to  hut." 


The  following  recapitulation  of  the  Judgment  of  the  Court 
Martial  before  whom  Major  Andre  was  tried,  the  order  from 
Washington  approving  the  same,  and  directing  its  execution, 
is  taken  from  the  "  Revolutionary  Orders"  of  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  edited  by  Henry  Whiting,  Lieut.  Col.  U.  S.  Army,, 
from  the  manuscripts  of  his  father,  John  Whiting,  Lieut,  and 
Adjutant  of  the  2nd  Regt.  Mass.  Line  : 

"  No.  80,  HEADQUARTERS  ORANGE  TOWN,  ) 
October  ist,  1780.          ) 

The  Board  of  General  Officers,*  appointed  to  examine  into 
the  case  of  Major  Andre,  have  reported — ist,  That  he  came 
on  shore  from  the  Vulture  Sloop  of  War  in  the  night  of  the 
2 ist  of  September  last,  on  an  interview  with  General  Arnold, 
in  a  private  and  secret  manner  ;  2ndly,  That  he  changed  his 
dress  within  our  lines,  and  under  a  feigned  name  and  disguised 
habit,  passed  our  works  at  Stony  and  Verplank's  Points  on  the 
evening  of  the  22nd  of  September  last,  and  was  taken  on  the 
23d  of  September  last,  at  Tarrytown,  in  a  disguised  habit,  and 
being  then  on  his  way  to  New  York,  and  when  taken  he  had  in 
his  possession  seveial  papers  which  contained  intelligence  for 
the  enemy. 

*  Tlip  Board  referred  to  consisted  of  Major-General  Gre<ne,  as  President,  and  Majoi 
Generals  Marquis  de  LaFayette,  and  Baron  Rteuben. 


'88  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

"  The  Board,  having  maturely  considered  those  facts,  do 
.also  report  to  his  Excellency,  General  Washington,  that  Major 
Andre,  Adjutant-General  of  the  British  Army,  ought  to  be 
considered  as  a  Spy  from  the  Enemy,  and  agreeably  to  the  law 
and  usage  of  Nations,  it  is  their  opinion  that  he  ought  to  surfer 
death.  The  Commander-in-Chief  directs  the  execution  of  the 
.above  sentence,  in  the  usual  way,  this  afternoon,  at  5  o'clock."* 

THE    WAR    OF    l8l2. 

For  several  years  the  war  cloud  had  loomed  dark  and 
'threatening  over  the  land.  Difficulties  with  foreign  powers 
began  to  thicken ;  insults  were  heaped  upon  our  flag,  and  our 
solemn  protests  were  greeted  with  scorn.  Great  Britain  was 
first  and  foremost  in  these  acts  of  insolence.  She  claimed  the 
right  to  board  American  vessels  and  carry  off  pretended 
deserters  from  the  British  navy,  and  right  boldly  did  she 
exercise  her  claims.  Under  color  of  capturing  deserters, 
hundreds  of  American  seamen  were  forcibly  impressed  into 
the  British  service. 

In  addition  to  this,  English  cruisers  hovered  near  the 
principal  ports  of  the  United  States,  for  the  purpose  of 
intercepting  merchant  vessels,  which  were  carried  to  England 
as  lawful  prizes.  May  i6th,  1811,  the  American  Frigate 
President,  hailed  the  British  Sloop  of  War  Little  Belt,  and 
.received  a  cannon  shot  in  reply.  The  former  answered  the 
challenge  by  a  broadside.  A  sharp  action  ensued,  in  which 
Little  Belt  had  eleven  men  killed  and  twenty-one  wounded ; 
which  punishment  induced  her  commander  to  return  a  suitable 
answer.  The  conduct  of  both  commanders  was  approved  by 
their  respective  governments,  and  matters  assumed  a  still 
more  threatening  attitude. 

During  this  period  the  Indian  tribes  along  our  borders 
•showed  symptoms  of  unrest,  and  several  outbreaks  occurred  in 


*  Fn  the  "After  General  Orders,"  it  was  announced  that  "  the  execution  of  Major 
Andre  is  postponed  till  to-morrow."  In  the  "Evening  Orders"  of  the  same  date,  it  was 
announced  •'•  Major  Andre  K  to  be  executed  to-mo-row  at  12  o'clock,  precisely.  A  battal 
ion  of  eighty  .files  from  each  wing  is  to  attend  the  execution." 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  89 

the  frontier  settlements.  These  Indian  irruptions  were  justly 
attributed  to  British  emissaries,  sent  among  them  for  that 
purpose.  Still  our  government  was  loth  to  appeal  to  war,  as 
the  last  resort  to  settle  our  difficulties  and  protect  our  interests, 
but  was  at  last  forced  to  admit  that  forbearance  was  no  longer 
a  virtue.  On  the  first  of  June,  1812,  Madison,  in  a  message 
to  Congress,  reviewed  the  state  of  affairs  at  some  length, 
intimating  the  necessity  for  war.  The  Committee  of  Foreign 
Relations  reported  a  manifesto  as  the  basis  of  a  declaration  o* 
war ;  and  on  the  fourth  of  the  month  Mr,  Calhoun  presented 
a  bill  drawn  by  Mr.  Pinckney  for  the  purpose.  The  bill  was 
considered  by  both  houses,  with  closed  doors,  and  was  passed 
by  both  houses  with  fair  majorities.  On  the  i;th  it  was  signed 
by  the  President,  who  on  the  i9th  issued  a  proclamation, 
formally  declaring  war  against  Great  Britain. 

The  effect  of  this  war  was  severely  felt  by  the  people  of 
DUCHESS.  The  depreciation  of  Continental  money,  the 
demoralizing  effect  of  the  war  upon  the  country,  and  the 
disturbance  of  industrial  pursuits  were  among  the  causes  that 
bore  heavily  upon  them.  The  differences  of  sentiment  touch 
ing  the  national  questions  then  at  issue,  were  sharply  defined 
here.  There  was  only  a  partial  response  to  the  call  for 
volunteers,  though  there  was  no  violent  opposition  to  the 
measures  of  the  government.  Some  volunteer  companies 
were  raised  and  equipped,  and  drafts  made.  Col.  John  Brush 
commanded  the  troops  from  DUCHESS  County  which  were 
stationed  at  Harlem  Heights. 

The  imperfect  sanitary  arrangements  of  the  military  service 
exhibited  in  that  war,  as  well  as  the  lack  of  moral  enthusiasm 
among  the  soldiers,  were  in  marked  contrast  with  what  was 
shown  in  our  late  terrible  struggle,  yet  some  important  ends 
were  attained  in  the  War  of  1812.  which  Mr.  Lossing  terms 
•<;  The  Second  War  for  American  Independence." 

OFFICERS  IN  THE  LATE   REBELLION. 

The  ONE  HUNDRED  AND   FIFTIETH  REGIMENT  was  organ- 


90  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

ized  at  Poughkeepsie,  New  York,  to  serve  for  three  years.. 
The  companies  of  which  it  was  composed  were  raised  in  the 
County  of  Duchess.  It  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the 
United  States  October  u,  1862.  Mustered  out  of  service 
June  8,  1865,  in  accordance  with  orders  from  the  War  De 
partment,  and  the  recruits  transferred  to  the  Sixteenth  Regiment 
New  York  Volunteers.  The  following  are  the  principal  battles 
in  which  the  Regiment  was  engaged :  Gettysburgh,  Lookout 
Mountain,  Buzzard's  Roost,  Resaca,  Dallas,  Gulp's  Farm,  Peach 
Tree  Creek,  Averysborough,  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Raleigh.  The 
record  of  the  Regiment  is  a  noble  one,  reflecting  great  honor 
upon  the  County  that  sent  it  forth.  But  a  little  more  than 
one  third  of  those  that  went  out  with  the  regiment  returned 
with  it. 

COLONELS. — John  H.  Ketcham,  (Brevet  Brig.-  Gen.  U.  S. 
V.}  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  and  resigned  March  2,  1865. 
Alfred  B.  Smith,  (Brevet  Brig.- Gen.  U.  S.  V.}  commissioned 
April  12,  1865,  mustered  out  with  regiment  June  8th,  1865. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONELS. — Charles  G.  Bartlett,  commis 
sioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  discharged  October  27,  1864.  Alfred  B.. 
Smith,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1864;  promoted  to  Colonelcy 
April  12,  1865.  Joseph  H.  Cogswell  (Brevet  Col.  N.  Y.  V.} 
commissioned  April  22,  1865  ;  mustered  out  with  regiment, 
June  8,  1865. 

MAJORS. — Alfred  B.  Smith,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862, 
promoted  to  Lieut. -Col.  Nov.  30,  1864.  Joseph  H.  Cogswell, 
commissioned  Nov.  30,  1864,  promoted  to  Lieut-Col.  April 
22,  1865.  Henry  A.  Gildersleeve,  (Brevet  Lieut.- Col.  U.  S. 
V.}  commissioned  April  22,  1865,  and  mustered  out  with 
regiment 

ADJUTANTS. — William  Thompson,  commissioned  Novem 
ber  30,  1862,  discharged  Aug.  6,  1863.  Stephen  V.  R.  Cruger.. 
commissioned  Sept.  30,  1863,  promoted  to  Captain  Nov.  21, 
1864.  William  S.  Van  Keuren,  commissioned  Nov.  21,  1864,. 
promoted  to  Captain  April  22,  1865.  Cyrus  S.  Roberts,  com:- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  9! 

missioned  April    22,    1865,   but    not   mustered.     William    H. 
Bartlett,  commissioned  Dec.  22,  1865,  not  mustered. 

QUARTERMASTERS. — George  H.  Gaylord,  Brevet  Captain 
U.  S.  K)  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  resigned  March  9,, 

1863.  Henry  C.  Smith  (Brevet  Captain  N.  Y.  V.  and  U.  S.  K), 
commissioned  April  1863,  and  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

SURGEON. — Cornelius  N.  Campbell  commissioned  Nov.  3,. 
1862,  mustered  out  with  regiment  June  8,  1865. 

ASSISTANT  SURGEONS. — Stephen  G.  Cook,  commissioned' 
Nov.  3,  1862,  resigned  October  16,  1864;  recommissioned. 
Henry  Pearce,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862  ;  resigned  April  7.. 

1864.  Stephen    G.    Cook,    commissioned    Dec.     20,     1864,. 
declined.     Alexander  Hammill,  commissioned  Jan.  31,  1865,, 
mustered  out  with  regiment. 

CHAPLAINS. — Thomas  E.  Vassar,  commissioned  Nov.  3, 
1862,  discharged  August  6,  1863.  E.  O.  Bartlett,  com 
missioned  Nov.  30,  1863,  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

CAPTAINS. — Joseph  H.  Cogswell,  commissioned  Nov.  3, 
1862,  promoted  to  Major  Nov.  30,  1864,  Robert  C.  Tripp, 
commissioned  November  3oth,  1864;  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  Robert  McConnell,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862, 
resigned  October  20,  1864.  Stephen  V.  R.  Cruger,  (Bievet 
Lieut.- Col.  N.  Y.  V.  and  Major  U.  S.  V.)  commissioned 
Nov.  21,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Henry  A. 
Gildersleeve,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1864,  promoted  to  Major- 
April  22,  1865.  William  S.  Van  Keuren.  (Brevet  Major  N. 
K  V.}  commissioned  April  22,  1865,  mustered  out  with  regi 
ment.  William  R.  Woodin,  (Brevet  Lieut- CoL  N.  Y.  V.) 
commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  mustered  out  with  regiment. 
Andrus  Brant,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  resigned  Dec. 
1 8,  1863.  Obed  Wheeler,  (Brevet  Major  Ar.  K  K)  com 
missioned  Jan.  1 8,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  John 
L.  Green,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  Edward  A.  Wicks,  (Brevet  Major  U.  S.  K)  com 
missioned  Nov.  3,  1863  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Platt 
N.  Thorn,  (Brevet  Lieut- CoL  U.  S.  K)  commissioned  Nov.  3, 


•92  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

1862,  mustered    out    with   regiment;     Benj.   S.   Broas,    com 
missioned    November   3,  1862 ;    discharged    Nov.    25,    1863. 
Richard  Titus,  {Brevet  Major  N.  Y.  V.}  commissioned  Dec.  7, 

1863,  mustered  out  with  regiment.     John  S.  Schofield,  commis 
sioned  Nov.  3, 1862, mustered  out  with  regiment,  June  8th,  1865. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. — Henry  Gridley,  commissioned  Nov. 
3,  1862,  killed  in  action  at  Kulp's  Farm,  Ga..  June  22,  1864. 
William  Wattles,  (Brevet  Captain  U.  S.  V.}  commissioned 
Sept.  1 6,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Albert  Johnson, 
-commissioned  Nov.  3.  1862,  discharged  May  ist,  1863.  Benj. 
J.  Hevenor,  commissioned  June  28,  1863,  failed  to  muster. 
Robert  C.  Tripp,  commissioned  Dec.  7,  1863,  promoted  to 
Captain  Nov.  20,  1864.  Andrew  J.  Ostrom,  commissioned 
Nov.  30,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Edgar  P.  Welling, 
'commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  died  Oct.  21,  1863,  at  Tulla- 
homa,  Tenn.  James  P.  Mabbett,  commissioned  Nov.  30, 

1863,  resigned  October  4,  1864.   Frank  Mallory,  commissioned 
.Nov.   21,    1864,    mustered    out    with    regiment.     Robert    S. 
Mooney,  commissioned  Nov.   3,  1862,  resigned  Nov.  6,   1862. 
J.  Curtis  Smith,  commissioned    Nov.  30,   1864,  mustered  out 
with  regiment.      Henry  J.  Hick,  commissioned  Jan.  20,  1865, 
mustered  out  with  regiment.     Obed   Wheeler,  commissioned 
Nov.  3,  1862,  promoted  to  Captain  Jan.  18.  1864.     Perry  W. 
Chapman,  (Brevet  Major  and  Captain  N.   Y.V.  (commissioned 
Jan.  1 8,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS. — James  P.  Mabbett,  commissioned 
Nov.  3,  1862,  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Nov.  30,  1863.  Wil 
liam  Wattles,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1864,  promoted  to  First 
Lieut.  Sept.  16,  1864.  J.  Curtiss  Smith,  commissioned  Sept. 
1 6,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment,  June  8,  1865.  William 
H.  Bartlett,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1864,  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  Robert  C.  Tripp,  Jr.,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862, 
promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Dec.  7,  1863.  Andrew  J.  Ostrom, 
commissioned  Dec.  7,  1863,  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Nov.  30, 

1864.  Richard  Germond,  commissioned  May  1865,  not  mus 
tered.     Rowland   H.    Marshall,   commissioned   Nov.    3,   1862, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  93 

died  September  13,  1863,  at  Georgetown,  D.  C.  James  B. 
Furey,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1863,  mustered  out  with  regi 
ment.  Frank  Mallory,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  promoted 
to  First  Lieut.  Nov.  21,  1864.  Henry  J.  Hicks,  commissioned 
Nov.  21,  1864,  promoted  to  First  Lieut.  Jan.  20,  1865. 
Charles  H.  Smith,  {Brevet  Major  U.  S.  F!)  commissioned  May 
17,  1865,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Charles  P.  Barlow, 
commissioned  Jan.  18,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment. 
John  D.  Brown,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1864,  mustered  out 
with  regiment.  John  Sweet,  commissioned  Nov.  3,  1862,  died 
August  13,  1863.  Benj.  T.  Murfelt,  (Brevet  First  Lieut. 
U.  S.  V.}  commissioned  Sept.  16,  1864,  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  Charles  J.  Gaylord,  resigned  March  18,  1863. 
Landon  Ostrom,  commissioned  Sept.  16,  1864,  mustered  out 
with  regiment.  Benj.  M.  Van  Keuren,  commissioned  April 
22,  1865,  not  mustered.  John  McGill,  mustered  out  with  reg 
iment,  June  8th,  1865. 

THE  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY-EIGHTH  REGIMENT  was 
organized  at  Hudson,  N.  Y.,  to  serve  for  three  years.  The 
companies  of  which  it  was  composed  were  raised  in  the 
counties  of  Columbia  and  Duchess.  It  was  mustered  into 
service  of  the  United  States  September  4,  1862.  Mustered 
out  of  service  July  12,  1865,  in  accordance  with  orders  from 
the  War  Department.  The  principal  engagements  in  which 
this  regiment  was  engaged  were  those  at  Cedar  Creek,  Fishers 
Hill,  Winchester,  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson,  and  the  Red 
River  Campaign.  \Ve  give  below  the  officers  of  the  regiment 
from  this  county :  COLONEL, — James  Smith,  commissioned 
June  19,  1863,  discharged  June  7,  1864.  LIEUT.-COLONEL, — 
Francis  S.  Keese,  (Brevet  Colonel  N.  Y.  V.}  commissioned 
Jan.  22,  1864,  mustered  out  August  28,  1865.  MAJOR,— 
Robert  F.  Wilkinson,  commissioned  Jan  27,  1865,  mustered 
out  with  regiment  July  12,  1865.  ADJUTANTS. — John  P. 
Wilkinson,  commissioned  May  27,  1863,  resigned  Dec.  19, 
1863;  Ambrose  B.  Hart,  commissioned  Feb.  28,  1865. 


•94  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

mustered  out  with  regiment.  QUARTERMASTERS. — Alexander 
Annan,  commissioned  Sept.  19,  1862,  resigned  July  29,  1863  ; 
.Sylvester  H.  Mace,  commissioned  Oct.  7,  1863,  mustered  out 
with  regiment. 

ASSISTANT  SURGEON. — C.  H.  Andrus,  commissioned  Sept. 
10,  1862,  promoted  to  Surgeon  iy6th  N,  Y.  Volunteers,  Aug. 
14,  1864. 

CHAPLAIN. — John  Parker,  resigned  March  28,  1863. 

CAPTAINS. — Jeremiah  S.  Pearce,  commissioned  Aug.  2, 
1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Charles  E.  Bostwick, 
commissioned  Sept.  10,  1852,  promoted  to  Major  Ninety-fifth 
U.  S.  C.  T.  May  23,  1863.  Thomas  N.  Butcher,  commission 
ed  July  4,  1863,  mustered  out  with  regiment  July  12,  (865. 
George  Parker,  commissioned  Sept.  10,  1862,  promoted  to 
Lieut-Col.  9oth  U.  S.  C.  T.  August  30,  1863.  Henry  H. 
Sincerbox,  commissioned  Oct.  27,  1863,  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  Arthur  De  Wint,  commissioned  Sept.  10,  1862, 
resigned  March  19,  1864.  John  J.  Williamson,  commissioned 
April  28,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment,  John  A.  Van 
Ketiren,  commissioned  Sept.  10,  1862,  resigned  February  14, 

1864.  Charles  R.  Anderson,  commissioned  March    26,    1864, 
mustered    out    with    regiment.     Frederick    Wilkinson,     co^i- 
missioned  June  21,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment,  July  [2, 
1865. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANTS. — Ransom  A.  White,  commissioned 
August  2,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.  Howard  H. 
Morse,  commissioned  Sept.  18,  1862,  resigned  August  13, 
1863.  Spencer  C.  Doty,  commissioned  Jan.  i,  1863,  resigned 
July  23,  1863.  Jacob  Armstrong,  commissioned  Feb.  28, 

1865,  mustered  out   with  regiment.     Charles  Van  Tine,  com 
missioned  July  20,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment.     Colum 
bus  L.  Keyes,  commissioned  Nov.  30,  1863,  mustered  out  with 
regiment.  John  I.   Schouter,    June    21,   1864,    not  mustered; 
mustered  out  with  regiment  as  sergeant  Co.  I. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANTS, — Henry  Rothery,  commissioned 
July  20,  1864,  not  mustered;  mustered  out  with  regiment  as 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  95 

private  in  Company  F.  Benjamin  T.  Benson,  commissioned 
Aug.  2,  1864,  mustered  out  with  regiment  July  12,  1865. 

A  number  from  this  county  enlisted  in  the  "  People's 
Zouaves"  (44th,  N.  Y.)  in  1861.  This  was  largely  made  up  of 
students  and  professional  men  from  all  parts  of  the  State,  and 
during  the  war  was  frequently  called  upon  to  occupy  posts  of 
the  greatest  danger,  it  being  considered  as  one  of  the  most 
reliable  regiments  in  the  service.  Recruits  from  this  county 
joined  other  arms  of  the  service,  but  we  have  not  space  to 
mention  .?11  here.  Suffice  it  to  say,  no  county  in  the  State  was 
represented  on  the  bloody  battle  fields  of  the  late  rebellion  by 
a  nobler  set  of  men  than  was  OLD  DUCHESS. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Rebellion,  it  became  a  favorite 
idea  with  the  leading  minds  of  the  County  of  Duchess  in  mil 
itary  matters,  that  a  regiment  should  be  sent  out  composed  of 
and  officered  by  Duchess  County  men.  Many  of  her  citizens 
had  already  responded  to  the  call  of  the  nation  ;  but  being 
widely  distributed  among  the  various  arms  of  the  service,  and 
in  different  regiments,  it  was  thought  that  Duchess  could  not 
be  properly  represented  in  this  way.  After  a  deal  of  effort  the 
Governor  finally  gave  his  consent,  and  the  idea  took  a  tangible 
form  in  the  i5oth  Regiment  N.  Y.  S.  V.,  with  a  camp  located 
at  Poughkeepsie.  This  regiment  was  made  up  of  some  of  the 
noblest  sons  of  Duchess, — the  mechanic  and  student,  the 
farmer  and  accountant,  joining  heart  and  hand,  in  the  support 
of  their  country's  flag.  In  due  time  this  regiment  was  sent  to 
the  front,  where  it  participated  in  some  of  the  severest  actions 
of  the  war.  It  was  first  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg!! 
— a  most  terrible  ordeal  for  a  raw  regiment — where  it  behaved 
with  signal  gallantry.  In  all  the  engagements  in  which  it  after 
ward  took  a  part,  it  upheld  the  honor  of  the  section  that  sent 
it  forth  ;  and  it  is  said  the  regiment  can  boast  of  never  having 
been  broken  by  the  enemy  when  in  line  of  battle. 

But  at  last  the  strong  arm  of  the  Rebellion  was  broken ; 
the  two  great  armies  which  had  been  so  long  engaged  in  mor 
tal  combat  laid  down  their  arms,  and  .peace  once  more  reigned 


96  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

over  the  distracted  country.  The  i5oth,  with  her  battle  flags. 
torn  and  begrimed  with  the  shot  and  smoke  of  the  fight,, 
took  her  place  among  the  200,000  veterans  that  marched  in 
review  before  President  Lincoln,  on  their  return  from  the  war. 

The  people  of  Duchess  were  impatient  for  the  coming 
home  of  their  soldier  sons.  Delay  after  delay  still  kept  them 
absent,  and  not  a  few  anathemas  were  vented  against  the  powers- 
that  controlled  their  movements. 

At  last  the  day  was  appointed  that  the  regiment  was  to 
return  at  Poughkeepsie.  The  day  wore  away,  and  no  boat 
appeared ;  evening  came,  and  deepened  into  night,  but  still  its 
coming  was  unheralded.  The  citizens  retired  to  their  homes, 
and  the  town  was  enveloped  in  quiet. 

About  midnight  a  solitary  watchman  descried  the  boat 
coming  up  the  river.  The  signal  was  given  from  Kaal  Rock, 
which  awoke  the  city  from  her  slumbers.  The  population 
turned  out  en  masse,  to  welcome  her  defenders.  Every  dwel- 
ing  and  place  of  business  on  the  principal  streets  was  illumi 
nated.  The  i5oth  embarked,  and  marched  up  Main  Street 
between  two  closely  packed  files  of  men,  women  and  children ; 
while  the  loud  huzzas  that  rent  the  air  made  the  scene  one 
long  to  be  remembered. 

Let  us  not  forget  to  bestow  praise  to  others  who  repre 
sented  our  County  in  the  great  Rebellion.  Those  of  the  gallant 
1 2 8th,  who  so  nobly  faced  the  leaden  shot  at  Fort  Hudson,. 
and  confronted  the  enemy  on  other  hotly  contested  grounds^ 
are  worthy  a  high  place  in  our  memories.  All  honor  to  the 
"  Heroes  of  Duchess." 


GENERAL    HISTORY. 


^i  HE   early  inhabitants  of  DUCHESS  came  into  this  territory 

''/HP-'          •  • 

\£)     without  any  concert,  each  family  purchasing  land  inde- 

'v?S?  pendently  of  the  others,  and  without  any  previous 
t(ff  arrangement  for  establishing  civil  or  religious  organiza 
tions.  In  this  they  were  unlike  many  of  the  early  communities 
of  New  England,  where  the  settlements  were  made  under  the 
direct  supervision  of  a  regular  organization,  both  civil  and 
religious.  The  former  came  together  without  any  mutual 
purpose,  except  that  of  bettering  their  condition ;  the  latter 
set  out  at  once  with  all  the  advantages  accruing  from  a  unity  of 
purpose  and  a  settled  form  of  government.  However,  notwith 
standing  the  diversity  of  their  origin,  these  immigrants  soon 
began  to  lay  the  foundation  for  their  future  welfare  by  setting 
up  the  institutions  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  by  assiduously 
cultivating  that  love  of  freedom  which  has  characterized  the 
people  of  DUCHESS  through  all  the  trials  of  her  early  history. 
DUCHESS  County  was  organized  Nov.  ist,  1683,  and 
provisionally  attached  to  Ulster  because  of  its  few  inhabitants, 
provision  being  made  for  the  freeholders  in  DUCHESS  to  give 
their  votes  in  the  County  of  Ulster  the  same  as  if  they  lived 
there.  At  the  same  time  Orange  County  had  some  fifty 


98  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

families  under  the  protection  of  New  York  County.  In  the 
year  1713  DUCHESS  was  considered  competent  to  take  care  of 
herself,  though  containing  less  than  five-hundred  inhabitants, 
including  women,  children  and  blacks,  and  was  then  first 
represented  in  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Province.  The 
original  act  defines  its  boundaries  as  follows  : 

'•  The  DUCHESS  County,  [The  DUCHESS'S  County]  to  be 
from  the  bounds  of  the  county  of  Westchester,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  Highlands,  along  the  east  side  as  far  as  Roeliff 
Jansen's  Kill,  [now  Livingston's  Creek,]  and  east  into  the  woods 
twenty  miles." 

DUCHESS  County  was  not  settled  as  early  as  Westchester, 
Orange,  or  Ulster  Counties.  It  was  covered  with  heavy  timber, 
and  was  in  many  places  swampy.  Early  settlers  thought  it 
unhealthy.  None  but  the  Dutch  cared  to  venture  on  these 
grounds,  and  hence  settled  Fishkill. 

.  The  first  settlements  were  made  by  the  Dutch,  at  Fishkill 
and  afterwards  at  Rhinebeck,  previous  to  1690.  A  settlement 
was  begun  at  Poughkeepsie  about  the  year  1700.  Along  its 
river  region,  French  Refuges,  called  Huguenots,*  settled,  and 
about  the  year  1741  New  Englanders  came  into  its  eastern 
borders,  f  A  portion  of  the  county  was  settled  upon  lease 
holds,  which  here  as  elsewhere  led  to  difficulty. 


*  The  Huguenots,  or  French  Protestants,  came  from  Europe1,  and  were  a  parr  of  the 
50,000  prosecuted,  who  fled  from  France  four  years  before  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of 
Nantz.  The  cruelties  they  suffered  in  France  are  beyond  anything  else  of  the  kind  on 
record,  and  in  no  age  was  there  such  a  violation  of  all  that  is  sacred,  either  with  relation 
to  God  or  man;  and  when  we  consider  the  exalted  virtues  of  that  glorious  hand  of  brothers 
we  are  amazed  while  we  are  delighted  with  their  fortitude  and  courage.  Rather  than 
renounce  their  Christian  principles,  they  endured  outrage  shocking  to  humanity,  persecu 
tions  of  unheard  of  enormity,  and  death  in  all  its  horrors.  To  be  a  Huguenot  was  enough 
to  ensure  condemnation.  Whoever  bore  tin's  name  were  arraigned  for  their  lives,  and  on 
adhering  to  their  profession  were  condemned  by  merciless  judges  to  the  flames.  Some  of 
the  name  and  character  were  murdered  in  cold  blood,  and  massacred  without  any  legal 
forms  of  justice, 

t  The  following  copy  of  a  letter  now  (I860)  in  possession  ofT.  Van  Wyck  Brinkcr- 
hoff,  of  East  Fishkill,  throws  some  light  upon  the  early  history  of  the  County  :  '•  In  the 
year  1S23  I  saw  Isaac  Upton,  a  coaster  from  Newport,  who  informed  me  that  about  1700  he 
came  up  the  North  Kiver,  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  in  company  with  another  person,  went  to 
Mabbitt's  store,  in  Washington,  on  business.  That,  on  their  return,  they  took  a  circuitous 
route  from  Pleasant  Valley,  and  passed  the  house  of  a  German  by  the  natne  of  Hoffman, 
who  was  then  118  years  old.  He  supposed  himself  to  be  the  first  settler  in  Da-lies.* 
County.  When  young  lie  deserted  from  a  Dutch  ship  of  war  in  New  York,  squatted  where 
he  then  lived,  built  him  a  shanty,  and  lived  a  number  of  years  a  solitary  life  without  being 
able  to  find  a  white  woman  for  "a  wife.  Afterward  he  found  a  German  family  at  Khine- 
beck,  married,  and  lived  where  he  then  was  to  that  advanced  age.  I  was  informed  that 
he  died  two  years  afterward,  at  the  age  of  P20.  Signed.  PAUL  UPTON." 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  99 

JUNE  27th,  1776. — For  some  months  a  mob  has  frequently 
.assembled  and  ranged  the  eastern  part  of  the  manor  of 
Rensselaer.  Last  week  they  appeared  at  Mr.  Livingston's 
with  some  proposals  to  him  :  but  he  being  from  home,  they 
returned  to  Mr.  Rensselaer' s  son's,  about  two  miles  from 
Claverack,  where,  not  finding  him  at  home,  they  used  some 
insulting  words,  and  left  a  message  for  Mr.  Rensselaer,  that  if 
he  did  not  mset  them  next  day  at  their  rendezvous,  they  would 
come  to  him.  On  the  26th.  the  sheriff  of  Albany,  with  150 
men  under  his  command,  went  to  disperse  the  rioters,  who 
were  assembled  it  is  supposed  to  the  number  of  sixty  in  a 
house  on  the  manor.  On  the  sheriffs  advancing  to  the  house 
they  fired  upon  him,  and  shot  off  his  hat  and  wig,  but  he 
escaped  unhurt — many  shots  were  exchanged  on  both  sides. 
Of  the  militia,  Mr.  Cornelius  Tenbrook,  of  Claverack,  was 
killed,  and  seven  wounded.  Of  the  rioters  three  were  killed 
(two  of  them  the  ringleaders)  and  many  wounded,  among  them 
was  Capt.  Noble  (one  of  the  chief  instigators)  in  the  back, 
The  rioters  retreated  to  Captain  Noble's  house,  where  they 
formed  a  breastwork,  and  did  not  quit  the  house  till  the  sheriff's 
party  left  the  place.  He  afterward  went  to  Poughkeepsie  to 
get  assistance  from  the  regulars  to  disperse  the  whole  ;  but  the 
regulars  were  gone  to  Pendergraft's  house,  on  Philipse  Patent, 
in  DUCHESS  County. 

We  hear  from  Fredericksburgh,*  in  DUCHESS  County,  that 
on  Saturday  last,  as  a  party  of  regulars  stationed  there,  under 
the  command  of  Major  Brown,  were  crossing  a  bridge,  they 
were  met  by  about  30  of  the  rioters,  who  were  going  to  join 
Pendergraft,  their  chief's  party — a  skirmish  ensued,  wherein 
two  of  the  regulars  were  wounded,  and  it  is  supposed  a  much 
greater  number  of  the  rioters,  who  generally  dismounted  and 
lied  to  the  cornfields  and  bushes,  leaving  some  of  their  horses 
and  guns,  which  were  taken,  and  one  prisoner.  Several  more 
were  taken  that  night.  The  next  evening  they  sent  a  flag  of 
truce  with  50  followers,  who  were  all  lodged  in  the  meeting 
house,  and  the  next  day  several  more  parties  came  in. 
Pendergraft's  wife  was  gone  to  persuade  her  husband  to  accept 
of  the  Governor's  mercy,  as  were  many  more  wives  of  the 
rioters.  We  hear  of  no  lives  lost.  It  was  reported  that  300 
of  the  rioters  lodged  at  Quaker  Hill,  intending  to  attack  the 
regulars  on  the  i3th  tilt. — [Letters  from  Claverack. 

*  Patterson  Village,  or  the  City,  during  the  Revolution  and  previous  thereto,  says 
Blake  in  the  History  of  Putnam  County,  was  called  Fredericksburgh.  The  village,  nn'ti! 
1  he  Harlem  Railroad  was  built,  was" located  about  one-halt' mile  west  of  the  railroad 

station. 


TOD  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Pendergraft  was  afterwards  taken,  tried  before  Judge  Hors- 
mander  for  high  treason,  and  sentenced  to  be  executed,  but 
was  afterward  pardoned.  Fifty  to  sixty  others  were  fined, 
imprisoned  or  pilloried.  Soon  after  the  sentence  of  Fender- 
graft,  an  advertisement  appeared,  offering  a  good  reward  to 
any  one  willing  to  assist  as  executioner,  and  promising  disguise 
against  recognition,  and  protection  against  insults.* 

In  1689,  the  inhabitants  of  DUCHESS,  like  those  of  Ulster 
and  Albany,  took  part  against  Leisler.  This  was  during  the 
period  of  civil  commotion  occasioned  by  the  accession  of 
William,  Prince  of  Orange,  to  the  throne  of  England,  and 
which  agitation  extended  to  her  colonies.  Leisler  had  assumed 
the  office  of  Governor,  and  the  people  of  the  above-mentioned 
counties  refused  subjection  to  him.  Milbourne,  a  son-in-law 
of  Leisler,  proceeded  to  the  disaffected  territory  with  a  con 
siderable  armed  force,  which  had  the  effect  of  reducing  the 
colonists  to  subjection. 

For  a  time  the  progress  of  population  was  slow.  In  the 
year  1714,  or  thirty-one  years  after  the  organization  of  the 
county,  it  contained  only  sixty-seven  freeholders,  and  an  aggre 
gate  number  of  souls,  including  twenty-nine  slaves,  of  445. 
The  following  are  the  names  of  the  freeholders,  as  they  appear 
in  the  Dutch  records  : 

Jacob  Kip,  Jacob  Plough,  Matieis  Sleyt,  Evert  Van  Wag- 
enen,  William  Ostrander,  Lowrens  Ostrout,  Peter  Palmater, 
Maylvell  Pulmatier,  William  Tetsort,  Hendrick  Pells,  Peter 
Vely,  John  Kipp,  John  De  Grave,  Leonard  Lewis,  Elena  Van 
Der  Bogart,  Bartholomus  Hogenboom,  Baltus  Van  Kleek, 
Frans  Le  Roy,  Barent  Van  Kleeck,  John  Ostrom,  Hamen 
Rinders,  Mindert  Van  Der  Bogart,  Johanes  Van  Kleck,  Lenar 
Le  Roy,  Swart  Van  Wagenen,  Henry  Van  Der  Burgh,  Elias 
Van  Bunschoten,  Thomas  Sanders,  Catrine  Lasinck,  Wedo, 
Peter  Lasinck/-  — ey  Scouten,  Mellen  Springstun,  Johnes 
Terbets,  John  Beuys,  Garratt  Van  Vleit,  Abram  Beuys,  Wil 
liam  Outen,  Andreis  Daivedes,  Frans  De  Langen,  Aret  Mas- 

*  Dunlap's   Hist.  N.  Y. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  IOI 

ten,  James  Husey,  Roger  Brett,  Peter  De  Boyes,  Isaac  Hen- 
dricks,  Jehu  Breines,  Jeury  Sprinstan,  Peck  De  Wit,  Adaam 
Van  Alssed,  Cellitie  Kool,  Harmen  Knickerbocker,  Johanis 
Dyckman,  Sienjar,  Jacob  Hoghtslingh,  Dirck  Wesselse,  Wil 
liam  Schott,  Jacob  Vosburgh,  Tunis  Pieterse,  Hendrick  Bret- 
siert,  Roelif  Duytser,  Johannis  Spoor,  Junjoor,  Abraham 
Vosburgh,  Abraham  Van  Dusen,  Willem  Wijt,  Lauwerens 
Knickerbocker,  Hendrick  Sissum,  Aenderis  Gerdener,  Gysbert 
Oosterheut,  Johannis  Dyckerman,  Junjor.  The  intelligent 
reader  will  readily  distinguish,  in  the  quaint  orthography  of  the 
above  list,  many  of  the  family  names  of  the  present  time. 

French's  Gazetteer  says  of  this  county :  "  The  most 
important  articles  of  manufacture  are  cotton  and  woolen  goods, 
prints,  iron  ware,  flour,  malt  liquors,  cordage,  leather,  oil, 
paper,  &:c.  Its  manufactured  products  in  1845  exceeded 
$25.000,000." 

This  County,  now  so  populous  and  opulent,  was  assessed 
in  the  year  1702  below  any  other,  contributing  only  ^18  to 
a  general  tax  of  ^2.000. 

In  1729  the  County  was  thus  described:  "  The  south  part 
is  mountainous,  and  fit  only  for  iron  works  ;  but  the  rest  con 
tains  a  great  quantity  of  good  upland,  well  watered.  The  only 
villages  in  it  are  Poughkeepsie  and  Fishkill,  though  they 
scarcely  deserve  the  name.  There  is  no  Episcopal  Church  in 
it.  The  growth  of  this  county  has  been-  very  sudden,  and 
commenced  but  a  few  years  ago.  Within  the  memory  of 
persons  now  living,  it  did  not  contain  twelve  families  ;  and 
according  to  the  late  returns  of  the  Militia,  it  will  furnish  at 
present  about  2500  fighting  men." 

In  1723  its  population  was  1,083  j  ni  T737?  3<4T8  '>  ^n  J746, 
8,806;  in  1/71,  22,404. 

On  the  27th  of  May,  1775,  a  Provincial  Congress  *  was 
convened  at  New  York,  and  efficient  measures  immediately 
taken  for  the  military  organization  and  defense  of  the  country. 

*  Up"ii  the  adjournment  of  this  ('onirress  in  September,  for  .1  month,  tlioy  delegated 
their  posvcrs  to  a  Committee  of  Safety,  composed  of  throe  members  from  the  c'ty  and 
county  of  New  York,  and  one  from  each  of  the  other  counties.  Thus  it  must  have 
consisted  of  l(j  members. 


102  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Two  regiments  were  authorized  to  be  raised,  bounties  offered 
for  the  manufacture  of  gunpowder  and  muskets  in  the  province, 
and  fortifications  were  projected  at  Kingsbridge  and  the  High 
lands. 

July  6th,  1776,  the  Provincial  Congress  met  at  White 
Plains  and  took  the  title  of  "  The  Representatives  of  the  State 
of  New  York."  On  the  first  day  of  the  meeting  they  received 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  immediately  passed  a 
resolution  approving  it.  Soon  after  they  enacted  a  law,  that  all 
persons  residing  in  the  State,  and  enjoying  the  protection  of 
its  laws,  who  should  be  found  guilty  of  siding  with  its  enemies, 
should  suffer  death. 

Their  deliberations  were  conducted  under  constant  excite 
ment  and  alarm,  and  their  places  of  meeting  were  continually 
changing.  From  New  York  they  moved  to  Harlem,  King's 
Bridge,  Yonkers,  White  Plains,  Fishkill,  Kingston  and  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  in  1784  returned  to  New  York.  Two  sessions 
were  afterwards  held  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  three  at  Albany, 
before  the  final  removal  to  the  latter  place  in  1797.  In  March. 
1778,  a  concurrent  resolution  directed  the  Secretary  of  State 
and  the  Clerks  of  the  Counties  to  put  their  records  into  strong 
and  light  enclosures,  to  be  ready  for  instant  removal  in  case  of 
danger. 

A  court  house  and  jail  were  first  ordered  to  be  built  at 
Poughkeepsie  July  2ist,  1715,  for  the  use  of  the  County,  but 
they  do  not  appear  to  have  been  completed  until  nearly  thirty 
years  afterwards.  In  1760,  an  act  authorized  the  conversion 
of  a  jury  room  into  a  jail,  and  four  years  after  money 
was  raised  to  complete  the  arrangement.  The  act  of  April 
nth,  1785,  appropriated  the  sum  of  ^15,000  to  re-construct 
the  building,  which  had  been  destroyed  by  fire,  and  Cornelius. 
Humphrey,  Peter  Tappen,  and  Gilbert  Livingston  were  appoint 
ed  a  building  committee.  A  further  tax  of  ,£2000  was 
ordered  in  1786,  and  another  of  ,£1300  in  1787.  In  the 
meantime  prisoners  were  sent  to  the  Ulster  County  jail.  By 
act  of  March  iQth,  1778,  the  Sheriff's  mileage  was  reckoned! 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  103 

from  the  house  of  Myndert  Vielle,  in  Beekmans  Precinct. 

The  buildings  were  again  destroyed  by  fire  on  the  night  of 
September  25th,  1808  ;  the  prisoners  were  removed  to  the 
Farmers'  Hotel,  and  the  courts  held  sessions  in  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church. 

The  act  for  the  construction  of  the  present  building  was 
passed  March  24th,  1809,  and  $12,000  was  raised  for  that 
purpose.  James  Talmadge,  John  B.  Van  Wyck  and  John  Van 
Benthuysen  were  appointed  building  commissioners.  The  next 
year  $15,000  additional  was  raised,  and  the  building  was  soon 
after  completed.  It  contains  the  court-room,  clerk's  office, 
and  all  the  usual  county  offices,  except  that  of  surrogate, 
which  is  in  a  small  building  adjacent.  A  new  jail  was  built 
separate  from  the  court  house  about  the  year  1860. 

In  March,  1807,  a  bill  was  introduced  into  the  Legislature 
to  divide  DUCHESS  County.  The  bill  passed  the  Senate  by  a 
vote  of  sixteen  to  thirteen,  but  it  was  rejected  in  the  Assembly 
by  a  vote  of  forty-eight  to  forty-seven.  In  a  motion  to  recon 
sider  the  vote  stood  forty-nine  to  forty-nine,  but  the  speaker 
voting  in  the  negative  the  motion  was  lost,  and  DUCHESS 
County  was  not  divided  until  five  years  afterwards.  After  an 
interval  of  several  years  a  line,  called  the  Philips  and  Robin 
son's  Line,  was  surveyed  through  DUCHESS  County,  two  miles 
north  of  the  Putnam  County  line,  and  parallel  with  it,  and  an 
attempt  made  to  extend  the  latter  County  to  that  line  ;  but 
the  measure  proved  a  failure. 

By  act  of  April  nth,  1808,  semi-annual  fairs  of  sale  were 
directed  to  be  held  in  this  County,  under  the  management  of 
five  commissioners,  to  be  appointed  by  the  Judges  of  Common 
Pleas.  These  fairs  were  to  be  supported  by  a  tax  of  one  per 
cent  on  all  sales,  one-half  to  be  paid  by  the  purchaser,  and 
one-half  by  the  seller. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Supervisors,  held  in  January,  .1721, 
among  the  items  of  expense  allowed  are  the  following  :  To 
Trynte  Van  Kleek,  widow,  for  victualling;  the  assessors  and 


104  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

supervisors,    95.     To  Jacobus  Vander    Bogart,    Esq.,   for   the 
assessors  and  for  horse  fodder,  3$. 

In  the  list  of  expenses  allowed  at  a  session  of  supervisors 
and  assessors  in  1726,  the  following  are  among  the  items 
allowed  :  To  Col.  Leonard  Lewis,  for  three  gallons  of  rum  for 
assessors  and  supervisors,  at  two  meetings,  at  53  per  gallon. 
155.  To  Widow  Vander  Bogart,  for  victualling  assessors  and 
supervisors,  and  clerk,  and  sider  furnished,  ^£i  75.  To  Hen- 
drick  Bass,  for  destroying  a  wolf,  allowed  in  the  act,  6s.  To 
Harmanus  Reynders,  for  tending  and  waiting  on  the  justices 
and  assessors  and  supervisors,  clerk,  is  allowed  for  a  year's 
service,  £2.  To  Cornelius  Vancler  Bogart,  Collected  for  two 
people  that  ran  away  out  of  his  tax  list  last  year,  which  he  did 
not  receive,  their  taxes  in  all,  ics. 

"The  burning  of  a  white  man  and  negro  for  incendiarism, 
which  took  place  in  Market  Street  about  a  century  ago,  was 
witnessed  by  a  large  concourse  of  people.  The  horrors  of  the 
scene  were  indescribable ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  sufferers  never 
would  die,  but  continued  their  screams  of  agon}  longer  than  it 
seemed  possible  for  any  one  to  live  under  the  circumstances. 
After  the  fuel  under  them  had  been  nearly  exhausted,  and  their 
charred  and  half  consumed  bodies  had  fallen  among  the  coals 
and  ashes,  the  negro's  jaws  continued  to  open  and  shut,  as  if 
yawning,  for  some  minutes,  as  the  people  crowded  around  to 
witness  the  end." 

"  But  there  was  another  scene  of  horror  which  took  place  in 
Poughkeepsie  in  the  early  part  of  the  Revolution,  which  ex 
ceeded,  if  possible,  the  burning  above  alluded  to.  Two  boys 
from  Fishkill,  only  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  were  arrested 
as  spies.  Being  without  friends,  they  were  undefended;  were 
tried  and  condemned  to  be  hung,  and  were  actually  executed 
on  Forbus  Hill. " 

"  The  trial  and  execution  of  an  unfortunate  man  from 
Beekman,  named  Brock,  which  took  place  about  1770.  is  too 
melancholy  to  dwell  upon.  He,  too,  was  poor  and  friendless; 
and  was  arrested  for  passing  a  counterfeit  hard  dollar,  which  it 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  105 

was  proved  had  been  given  him.  At  the  trial  he  had  no 
defense,  and  he  was  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to  be  hung, 
and  his  body  delivered  to  the  surgeons  for  dissection  ;  all  of 
which  took  place  at  Poughkeepsie." 

TRAVEL  AND  POST  ROUTES. 

The  only  post  road  in  the  State  in  1789  was  between  New 
York  and  Albany,  running  through  Fishkill,  Poughkeepsie  and 
Rhinebeck,  and  the  number  of  post-offices  in  the  State  was 
only  seven. 

In  an  old  N.  Y.  City  paper,  bearing  date  Oct.  2cl,  1797, 
occurs  the  following  advertisement :  "  Vermont  stages  [mail 
and  passenger]  will  leave  New  York  every  Monday,  Wednesday 
and  Friday  morning,  at  8  o'clock,  run  to  Bedford  the  first 
day,  the  second  to  Dover,  the  third  to  Stockbridge,  and  fourth 
to  Bennington,  Vermont.  Fare  of  each  passenger  five  cents 
per  mile."  Tims  it  appears  that  Duchess  early  enjoyed  the 
privilege  of  two  mail  routes,  extending  through  its  eastern  and 
its  western  borders,  communicating  with  New  York  City. 

Letters — the  few  that  were  written — were  mainly  carried 
by  private  hands.  Newspapers — from  Hartford  and  Pough 
keepsie — were  carried  by  post-riders  on  horseback.  Such  was 
the  custom  within  the  recollection  of  many  of  our  old 
residents. 

Under  the  caption  "  New  Mail  Route,'''  an  old  copy  of  the 
Poughkeepsie  Observer  has  the  following : — "  Proposals  will 
be  received  by  the  Post  Master  General,  until  the  27th  of 
September.  1817,  for  carrying  the  mail  once  a  week  from 
Poughkeepsie  to  New  Milforcl,  (Conn.)  via  Beekman, 
Pawling.  £c. 

Elihu  Stewart,  familiarly  called  Captain  Stewart,  father  of 
Elihu  Stewart,  Esq.,  of  Sherman,  Conn.,  was  the  successful 
bidder.  I-Ie  was  succeeded  by  one  Page,  who  conducted  the 
route  until  he  failed,  when  Stewart  again  resumed  charge  of  it. 
At  this  time  the  mails  were  carried  through  three  times  each 
way,  every  week.  Finally  a  Mr.  Butler  took  the  contract, 


106  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

agreeing  to  carry  the  mail  from  New  Milford  to  Poughkeepsie 
and  return  each  day,  a  distance  of  nearly  seventy  miles,  over  a 
very  mountainous  road.  Though  frequent  relays  of  horses 
were  provided,  this  was  found  to  be  hardly  practicable,  and 
several  horses  were  killed  on  the  road  before  the  plan  was 
discontinued.  Butler  was  succeeded  by  McKibbin,  who  con 
tinued  on  the  route  until  the  completion  of  the  Harlem  Rail 
road  to  Dover  Plains.  The  old  Poughquag  Tavern  (now  the 
residence  of  Daniel  Thomas,  Esq.,)  was  called  the  half-way 
house,  where  man  and  beast  were  refreshed. 

THE  SHARON  CANAL. 

About  the  year  1821,  the  New  York  and  Sharon  Canal  was 
projected,  Many  enterprising  men  took  a  lively  interest  in  it, 
though  some  looked  upon  it  as  a  visionary  scheme.  The  canal 
was  proposed  to  be  constructed  from  Sharon  Valley  down  by 
the  Oblong  River,  and  by  the  Swamp  River,  to  the  sources  of 
the  Croton  in  Pawling,  and  by  the  Croton  either  to  the  Hudson 
or  the  Harlem  River.  The  Harlem  Railroad  runs  over  very 
nearly  the  route  proposed  for  the  canal.  An  extension  of  the 
canal  north  through  Salisbury  to  Great  Barrington,  in  Massa 
chusetts,  was  also  contemplated.  The  preliminary  survey  was 
made,  and  about  sixty  thousand  dollars  contributed.  This 
money  was  deposited  with  a  broker  in  New  York,  who  failed. 
This  so  discouraged  the  managers  that  the  project  was 
abandoned. 

In  1826  the  project  seems  to  have  been  renewed,  and 
and  a  Report  of  the  Canal  Commissioners  was  made  to  the 
Legislature,  of  surveys  and  estimates  by  an  engineer  employed 
by  the  Commissioners.  The  estimated  cost  of  the  Canal  to  the 
Hudson  was  $599,232  ;  and  by  the  route  to  the  Harlem  it  was 
$1,232,169.  This  included  the  whole  expense  of  excavation, 
aqueducts,  locks,  bridges,  and  everything  essential  to  the 
completion  of  the  work.  A  survey  was  made  of  ponds  and 
streams  which  could  be  made  to  supply  the  canal  with  water, 
and  an  estimate  given  of  the  amount  of  transportation  that 


HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY.  107 

might  be  expected.  We  have  no  record  of  the  project  after 
this.  Cyrus  Swan,  of  Sharon;  Joel  Benton  and  Thomas 
Barlow,  of  Amenia ;  William  Tabor,  of  Pawling  ;  and  Mark 
Spencer,  of  Amenia,  were  among  the  projectors  of  this  enter 
prise. 

SOIL,    CLIMATE,   ETC. 

The  soil  is  in  general  a  fine  quality  of  sandy  and  gravelly 
loam.  Upon  the  hills  it  is  in  some  places,  composed  of 
disintegrated  slate  ;  and  upon  the  Hudson  River  intervales  it  is 
a  deep  rich  alluvium.  The  richness  and  variety  of  its  soil, 
and  its  proximity  to  the  New  York  market,  insure  a  rich  return 
for  all  agricultural  labor ;  and  it  ranks  foremost  among  the 
various  counties  in  the  State.  In  cultivated  area  it  is  excelled 
only  by  Jefferson,  Oneida,  Otsego  and  St.  Lawrence  ;  and  in 
cash  value  of  farms  by  Monroe  and  Westchester  only.  Farm 
ing  is  of  a  mixed  character,  all  branches  being  successfully 
pursued.  Owing  to  the  facilities  afforded  by  the  network  of 
railroads  throughout  the  County,  the  sending  of  milk  to  New 
York  has  become  an  important  branch  of  business,  That  part 
of  the  County  along  the  Hudson  has  considerable  ornamental 
farming  and  gardening,  where  are  the  country  seats  of  men  of 
opulence. 

Owing  to  its  somewhat  elevated  position,  the  climate  of  the 
County  is  colder  than  in  some  of  the  adjacent  counties  of  the 
same  latitude. 

A  considerable  amount  of  manufacturing  is  carried  on,  the 
principal  establishments  being  located  in  Poughkeepsie  and 
Fishkill.  The  commerce  by  means  of  the  Hudson  is 
extensive.  In  1850,  whale  fishing  was  prosecuted  here  to  a 
considerable  extent,  several'large  ships  being  employed.  About 
that  time  eight  or  ten  steamboats,  and  a  considerable  number 
of  sloops,  schooners  and  barges,  were  employed  in  the  coasting 
trade. 

The  following  facts  may  interest  the  general  reader: — In 
1687  the  Governor  and  Council  levied  a  tax  of  half  a  penny 


108  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

on  every  pound  out  of  the  estates  of  the  freeholders  of 
DUCHESS  County. 

A  further  act  was  passed  Sept.  loth,  1692,  "  To  raise  So 
men  out  of  DUCHESS  and  Ulster  to  protect  Albany  from 
Indians  during  the  winter."  In  1713  empowered  DUCHESS  to 
elect  a  Supervisor,  Assessor  and  Collector. 

Previous  to  1718  no  records  were  kept  in  DUCHESS  County. 
Whatever  records  may  have  been  kept  are  lost.  None  are  to 
be  found  in  Ulster  County. 

The  cities  of  Newburgh  and  Po'keepsie  now  contain  more 
inhabitants  than  the  whole  State  of  New  York  in  1695.  In 
1723  there  were  195  taxable  inhabitants  in  DUCHESS  County. 


AMENIA. 


POPULATION,  2,700.   SQUARE  ACRES,  84,568. 


MENIA   is  one  of  the   original  towns   formed  by  act  of 
March  7,  1788.      It  comprises  the  width  of  the  Oblong 
^tf)0     tract,    and   the   east    tier   of    lots    in   the   Great  Nine 

VfjJ 

Partners. 

The  origin  of  the  name  is  too  obscure  to  venture  even  a 
guess  upon.  It  is  noticeable  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  only 
locality  bearing  the  name  in  the  whole  country.  Young,  a 
minor  American  poet,  applies  this  term  in  his  "  Conquest  of 
Quebec,"  in  a  description  of  the  several  provincial  troops  em 
ployed  in  that  campaign. 

The  Taghkanick  Mountains  extend  along  the  east  border, 
and  the  Highlands  belonging  to  the  Fishkill  Range  extend 
through  the  west  part.  The  wide  valley  separating  these  two 
ranges  occupies  the  central  portions.  The  declivities  of  the 
mountains  are  often  steep  and  sometimes  rocky,  and  their 
highest  summits  often  reach  the  altitude  of  300  to  500  feet 
above  the  valleys.  Amenia  Station  is  500  feet  above  tide 
water.  The  soil  is  a  clayey  and  sandy  loam. 

The  principal  streams  are  the  Weebutook  or  Ten  Mile 

109 


110  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

River,  Wassaic  Creek,  and  West  Brook,  and  their  branches. 
A  low  range  of  limestone,  hard  and  brittle,  of  a  bluish  color, 
considerably  disintegrated  where  it  crops  out,  extends  north 
and  south  through  the  valley.  Near  the  village  of  Wassaic  are 
striking  evidences  of  geological  changes  in  the  far-off  aeons  of 
the  world's  infancy.  The  bed  of  the  valley  is  a  succession  of 
low  hills  that  were  washed  up  by  the  waters  of  some  Paleozoic 
Lake,  that  at  one  time  filled  the  valley.  Dig  into  the  sandhills 
and  you  will  see  the  works  of  the  waves  left  in  the  ripples  of 
the  sand. 

A  gentleman  who  had  travelled  extensively  in  Europe,  said 
he  never  saw  a  lovelier  valley  than  that  of  Amenia.  No 
country  affords  finer  contrasts  of  mountain,  hill,  ravine,  wood 
and  cultivated  plain.  All  its  approaches  from  the  west  are 
beside  streams,  through  gorges,  up  and  down  steep  declivities 
as  wild  and  varied  as  those  of  far-famed  Switzerland.  The 
contrast  between  the  fairness  of  a  clear  Summer  afternoon  and 
a  ragged  thunder  storm  in  the  night  is  not  greater  than  that  of 
the  fair  fields  of  Lithgow,  and  the  stern,  dark  mountains  and 
fearful  ruggedness  of  Deep  Hollow. 

Amenia  Village,  The  City,  Wassaic,  Amenia  Union,  South 
Amenia,  Leedsville,  and  Sharon  Station  are  post  villages. 

Richard  Sackett  was  here  several  years  before  any  other 
settlement  was  made,  probably  about  the  year  1711.  He 
located  at  the  "  Steel  Works,"  about  one  mile  south  of  the 
village  of  Wassaic,  so  called  because  a  furnace  and  foundry 
were  established  there  during  the  Revolution,  to  manufacture 
steel  for  the  use  of  the  army.  The  site  of  the  works  is  still 
covered  by  coal  dust  and  cinders.  Mr.  Sackett  was  connected 
with  the  Livingstons  in  the  settlement  of  the  Palatinates  at 
German  or  East  Camp,  now  Germantown,  Columbia  County. 
In  the  Colonial  Records  we  read:  "  March  n,  1703,  Richard 
Sackett  petitioned  government  for  license  to  purchase  (of  the 
Indians)  a  tract  of  land  in  DUCHESS  County,  east  of  Hudson's 
River,  called  Washiack."  "Oct.  20,  1703,  license  granted." 
"Nov.  2,  1704,  patent  granted  to  Richard  Sackett  &  Co.,  for 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


said  land,  containing  about  y;5oo  acres,  or  thereabouts."  Mr. 
Sackett  was  one  of  the  company  known  as  the  Little  Nine 
Partners.  He  died  in  1746,  and  was  buried  on  the  hill,  in  a 
little  cemetery  not  far  from  his  residence.  At  the  time  that  he 
established  his  family  in  Amenia,  there  was  not  another  white 
family  nearer  than  Poughkeepsie,  or  Woodbury  and  New  Mil- 
ford,  in  Connecticut. 

Uldrick  Winegar  and  his  son,  Capt.  Garrett  Winegar,  were 
the  next  settlers.  They  were  of  the  Palatinates  at  East  Camp, 
and  located  at  Amenia  Union  about  the  year  1724,  where  they 
entered  upon  land  without  any  title,  except  from  the  Indians. 
Afterward,  when  the  Oblong  was  confirmed  to  New  York,  and 
surveyed,  he  received  a  title  from  the  proprietors  of  that  tract. 
It  is  worthy  of  note  that  no  mention  is  made  of  any  block 
house,  or  any  defense  against  the  Indians,  put  up  by  these 
early  settlers,  though  isolated  for  many  years  from  any  other 
white  settlements  ;  while  in  Litchfield,  between  1720  and  1730, 

there  were  five  houses  sur 
rounded  by  palisades,  and 
f.oldiers  w  ere  stationed 
ihere  to  guard  the  inhab 
itants  while  at  work,  and 
at  worship  on  the  Sabbath. 
Uldrick  died  in  1754,  at 
The  wine-gar  House.  the  age  of  io2years,  and 

Garrett  the  year  following.  Their  graves  and  those  of  many 
of  their  descendants  are  in  that  beautiful  burial  ground  near 
Amenia  Union. 

Hendrick  Winegar,  the  oldest  son  of  Capt.  Garrett,  resided 
for  several  years  at  the  foot  of  the  West  Mountain;  in  1761  he 
built  the  large  stone  and  brick  house  a  short  distance  west  of 
Amenia  Union.  He  was  ancestor  of  the  families  of  that  name 
in  Kent,  Conn. 

The  Rows,  likewise  Germans,  are  believed  to  have  been  of 
the  Palatinates,  and  settled  near  Amenia  Union,  soon  after  the 
Winegars,  and  previous  to  1731.  Henry  Nase  settled  below 


112  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

them,  near  the  town  line.  His  memorial  stone,  in  the  cemetery 
at  Dover,  says : — "  Henry  Nase,  born  in  High  Germany,  died 
Dec.  14,  1759,  about  64  years  old."  The  old  houses,  built  by 
these  early  settlers,  of  which  there  were  as  many  as  seven  or 
eight  near  Amenia  Union  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  cen 
tury,  were  objects  of  special  interest.  The  Delamaters  were 
French  Huguenots,  and  settled  here  previous  to  1740. 

The  first  highway  from  Salisbury  was  from  Weatague 
through  Lakeville,  Ore  Hill,  Sharon  Valley,  and  Sackett's  Farm 
in  Dover,  showing  the  intercourse  of  these  Dutch  families. 
The  first  important  immigration  to  this  town  was  not  until  the 
year  1740,  and  it  appears  that  ten  years  afterward  the  popula 
tion  was  sufficient  to  encourage  the  people  to  institute  public 
worship  in  three  places. 

In  the  journal  of  Abraham  Rhinke,  one  of  the  Moravian 
Missionaries,  who  preached  at  u  Nine  Partners  and  the  Oblong" 
in  1753,  he  says: — "The  people  came  here  five  years  ago  in 
expectation  of  bettering  their  fortunes  by  the  purchase  of  cheap 
farms,  and  for  the  enjoyment  of  religious  liberty."  From  this 
it  would  appear  that  the  influx  of  population  was  about  the  year 
1748  ;  and  it  also  affords  an  idea  of  the  sentiment  of  freedom 
in  religion,  entertained  by  the  early  settlers. 

At  the  time  of  settlement  a  remnant  of  the  Pequod  Indians 
had  a  village  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town,*"  called  Wech- 
quadnach,  on  the  west  side  of  Indian  Pond.  Some  Moravian 
missionaries  began  to  labor  with  them  about  the  year  1740. 
with  evident  success  ;  but  so  annoyed  were  they  by  the  officers 
of  the  Colonial  Government,  that  in  a  few  years  they  were 
driven  out  of  the  State.  These  Christian  laborers  wrere  charged 
with  being  Jesuits,  and  emissaries  of  the  French.  Although 
the  charge  proved  groundless,  it  may  be  some  palliation  of  the 
jealousy  of  the  Colonists,  that  the  French  were  sending  their 
emissaries  among  the  Indians  in  other  quarters  to  incite  them 
against  their  English  neighbors.  It  should  be  noted  that  it  wras 
not  the  local  authorities  that  suspected  the  peaceable  savages, 


The  town  limits,  or  rather  the  precinct  limits,  have  been  since  changed. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  113 

for  they  were  held  in  the  highest  esteem  by  the  whites.  After 
ward,  one  of  the  Moravians,  Rev.  Joseph  Powell,  ministered 
to  a  congregation  near  Indian  Pond.  He  died  in  1774,  and 
was  interred,  with  some  of  his  people,  in  the  burial  ground 
near  their  house  of  worship.  A  more  extended  account  of  the 
Moravians  in  DUCHESS  County  is  given  in  the  chapter  on  Pine 
Plains. 

Several  Indian  burial  places  are  spoken  of  in  tradition : 
one  on  the  lands  of  Myron  B.  Eenton  ;  another  near  Amasa 
D.  Coleman's,  still  the  burial  place  of  families  in  the  vicinity. 
At  a  place  by  the  river  called  the  ;:  Nook,"  near  South  Amenia, 
the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  hold  their  noisy  pow-wows. 
There  were  a  few  wigwams  near  the  outlet  of  Swift's  Pond. 

Amenia  is  topographically  divided  into  three  valleys.  In 
«arly  times  each  valley  had  its  separate  place  of  worship,  each 
-church  being  of  the  same  order — Presbyterian  or  Congrega 
tional.  The  oldest  was  organized  near  the  centre  of  the  town, 
and  was  named  "  Carmel.  in  the  Nine  Partners."  In  1750, 
Abraham  Paine,  Jun.,  "was  set  apart  to  the  work  of  the  min 
istry  by  solemn  ordination  by  laying  on  the  hands  of  the  Pres 
bytery,  and  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost."  Mr.  Paine  and 
some  of  his  church  soon  became  affected  with  the  notions  of 
the  "  New  Lights,"  or  "  Separatists,"  which  lead  to  some  disa 
greement  with  the  more  conservative  of  the  congregation. 
The  house  of  worship  known  as  the  '•  Red  Meeting  House" 
was  built  in  1758.  and  stood  about  a  mile  northeast  of  the 
village  of  Amenia,  near  the  burying  ground.  It  was  a  square 
building,  two  stories  high,  with  a  gallery  on  three  sides,  and 
seated  with  square  pews.  This  house  was  built  and  afterwards 
repaired  by  contributions  from  persons  not  strict  adherents  to 
the  Congregational  polity,  and  was  occupied  harmoniously  in 
later  years  by  the  Congregationalists,  Baptists  and  Methodists. 
In  the  Summer  of  1770.  the  celebrated  Whitefield  preached  in 
the  Red  Meeting  House  to  the  crowds  that  followed  him  all 
the  country  round  Elder  Elijah  Wood,  a  Baptist,  was  the 
acceptable  minister  of  the  congregation  for  several  years.  In 

h 


114  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  early  part  of  the  present  century  the  line  was  gradually 
drawn  between  the  three  denominations,  and  each  sustained  a 
separate  organization.  In  1811,  this  church  was  connected 
with  the  associated  Presbytery  of  Westchester,  and  in  1815- 
with  the  Presbytery  of  North  River.  In  the  same  year  Rev. 
Joel  Osborne  became  pastor,  giving  to  the  church  one-third  of 
the  time. 

The  congregation  in  the  Oblong  Valley,  known  as  the 
Oblong  Society,  was  made  up  partly  of  families  living  in  Con 
necticut,  the  church  edifice  being'  located  at  Amenia  Union. 
about  twenty  yards  west  of  the  colony  line.  It  was  a  capacious 


The  Hound  Top  Meeting  House  (He>tt»red). 

building,  with  galleries,  and  with  doors  on  three  sides.  The 
roof  had  four  sides,  terminating  at  the  top  in  an  ornamental 
cupola,  which  gave  it  the  name  of  "The  Round  Top  Meeting 
House."  It  was  built  in  1755,  and  in  1786  it  was  taken  down 
and  another  erected  near  where  the  present  church  edifice 
stands.  The  society  was  organized  in  1759,*  seventeen  years 
before  the  Revolution,  twenty-nine  years  before  the  organiza 
tion  of  the  town,  and  about  ten  or  fifteen  years  after  the  prin 
cipal  settlements  had  been  made.  Palatinates  and  Huguenots. 


*  In  18-50,  tlie  congregation  at  South  Amenia  held  memorial  services  in  commemo 
ration  of  its  one  him  Iredth  anniversary,  and  a  historical  discourse  was  read. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  115 

escaping  from  the  fire  of  persecution,  and  Puritans  from  New 
England  composed  the  membership. 

The  first  preaching  there  of  which  there  is  any  record,  was 
by  a  Moravian  missionary  in  1753.  named  Rhinke.  Rev. 
Kbenezer  Knibloe  was  installed  first  pastor.  He  came  from 
the  Philipse  Patent,  near  "  Kent's  Parish,"  or  Carmel.  He 
was  a  Scotchman  by  birth ;  his  manner  unfortunately  was  such 
that  members  in  his  congregation,  fired  with  patriotic  zeal, 
became  suspicious  of  his  loyalty  to  the  cause  of  the  king,  and 
he  was  dismissed  after  serving  them  sixteen  years.  The  evi 
dence,  however,  was  clearly  against  the  suspicion  ;  and,  after 
the  war,  he  again  ministered  to  them  acceptably  until  his 
death,  which  took  place  in  1785.  Marriages,  recorded  by  him. 
numbered  321  ;  baptisms,  581.  This  would  seem  to  indicate 
a  population  greater  than  at  present. 

While  the  British  were  in  possession  of  New  York,  the 
distinguished  Dr.  John  Rodgers.  a  Presbyterian,  left  the  city 
and  found  a  safe  retreat  in  the  country.  He  came  here  in 
1778,  out  of  the  way  of  the  disturbing  effects  of  the  war,  and 
ministered  to  the  people  about  two  years.  Rev.  Dr.  Livings 
ton  also  spent  some  time  here  during  the  war. 

The  following  are  from  the  old  church  records  : — i;  Voted. 
that  Capt.  Colbe  Chamberlain,  Lieut.  David  Doty,  Dr. 
Timothy  Babcock,  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Delano,  be  quoristers  ; 
that  Capt.  Colbe  Chamberlain  and  Ebenezer  Hatch,  be 
tithingmen."  [The  office  of  tithingmen  was  to  keep  the  young 
people  in  becoming  order.]  In  1778  the  society  voted  to 
give  their  pastor.  Dr.  Rodgers,  $16  per  Sabbath.  That  season 
the  people  furnished  for  Dr.  Rodgers'  family  one  hundred 
pounds  of  butter;  Simeon  Kelsey  provided  a  pig  of  about  one 
hundred  pounds  ;  Moses  Barlow  a  pig  and  a  beef ;  and  Jedediah 
Bump  about  six  hundred  pounds  of  pork.  Dr.  Rodgers 
resided  a  part  of  the  time  in  the  house  called  Deacon  Leon 
ard's  house,  near  George  Swift's. 

"  Feb.  22,  1786,  voted  that  our  present  old  Meeting  House 
be  taken  down  and  applied  to  the  building  of  a  new  one  ;  and 


Il6  HISTORY  OF  DUCHKSS  COUXTV. 

that  all  persons  who  had  any  right  in  the  old  meeting  house 
shall  be  considered  proprietors  m  the  new  one.''  Thus  it 
appears  the  true  succession  was  preserve;]  in  the  house  and  in 
the  congregation.  Some  of  the  material  of  that  first  building 
is  doubtless  in  the  present  structure. 

After  the  death  of  Air.  Knibioe,  several  ministers  were 
engaged  temporarily,  till  1802,  when  Rev.  John  Barnet  was 
engaged  as  preacher,  but  not  as  pastor,  who  continued  with 
them  upwards  of  ten  years.  He  was  a  Chaplain  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution,  first  in  Col  Hopkins'  Regiment,  of  Amenia, 
at  Saratoga,  and  afterwards  in  the  regular  'irmy.  Mr.  Barnet' s 
salary  was  sixty  pounds  per  annum,  and  the  use  of  the 
parsonage  farm,  which  then  included,  besides  the  present 
parsonage  land,  that  part  of  Henry  Cline's  farm  west  of  the 
highway.  A  Fourth  of  July  oration  by  Mr.  Barnet  in  1812 
was  published  ;  also  a  funeral  sermon  for  Ambrose  Spencer. 
Jim.,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Luncly's  Lane,  and  who 
had  been  a  pup.il  of  Mr.  Baraet's.  In  1015.  Rev.  Joel  Osborne 
became  pastor;  dismissed  at  his  own  request  in  1825  ;  died  in 
Kent,  Conn.,  in  1856.  aged  66  years.  Rev.  Asahel  Bronson 
was  installed  pastor  in  1827;  Rev.  John  G.  Lowe  in  1830; 
Rev.  A.  Cogswell  Frissell  in  1843;  and  Rev.  Harry  Smith  in 
1859.  The  present  .parsonage  was  built  in  1815,  and  the 
present  church  edifice  in  1849. 

The  following  is  a  brief  compendium  of  the  history  of  the 
Smith  field  Church  and  Society  : 

About  the  year  1750,  at  the  time  when  the  dark  cloud  of 
the  French  and  Indian  war  hung  over  the  Colonies,  a  plain 
church  edifice  was  erected  upon  the  ground  occupied  by  the 
present  building.  At  an  early  date  two  churches  occupied  the 
ground  now  covered  by  the  Smithfield  Church  and  Society. 
After  the  Revolution  there  was  an  effort  made  to  unite  the  two 
which  proved  successful.  Rev.  John  Cornwall,  it  is  believed, 
preached  the  gospel  in  both  places  until  his  death.  Both 
societies  were  originally  Congregational,  and  remained  so  until 
one  ceased  to  exist,  and  the  other  became  Presbyterian  in 


'v;;;, 

L^'^-g       X.:;    ™      '& 

Klllilfljr^^'  "*"    "v      ' 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  CO   '  117 

1824.      It    is  supposed  that   the  Separate  was 

built  very  nearly  the  same  time  with  the  :  n*  the  City,  but  ,ve 
have  no  records  of  cither. 

It  is  a  well-known  far:    th.it  those  a  a  thorough 

reformation  of  the    Church  of  England  hne  of  Queen 

Elizabeth  were  called    Puritans  ;  and  thai 

---^T^^^^SEHE"^  left  the  Church  of  Kr. gland 

-~E^^~  7~^-     were    cal'ed     Separ^cs    or 

^~iEi-    Separa:.;r-f;.      Some  of   hoth 
p.'.i t ,er    :     ";-;hi    vcfri.e    from 
^AX^   ;.eirc:          •  in  Aniejica,  and 
'2&  i.i     167-::     commenced     ihe 

settled 

The  Old  Separate  Meeting  House,  in     tha  V.t    ofthis    SOr.ioiy 

known  as  the    "Separate''  may  have   b<  sis,   or  in 

sympathy  with  thai  branch  oi  :e  n?rne. 

Stephen  Kenney  settled  near  the  Sc;.  ea.i'  17/0, 

and  was  one  of  the  nurabjr  \\rho  si'Tae.l  oo.'eiiar  o!'  'he 
organization  of  the  church  in  the  year  1787.  K!>  arns 

found  a  home  very  near  the  same  time  at  Adams'  Mi1  If  v;o 
also  signed  the  covenant  as  a  member  of  t^c  '-..!  ]::':am 

Bockee,  froni  New  York,  at  an  early  per'orl  s:  i!e  '  the 

land  purchased  by  his  father  in  the  year  1^99,  and  v,'h;ch  has 
remained  in  the  family  until  a  very  recent  c.a'e.  aert 

Willson,  Sen,,  died  in  1799,  just  twelve  rears  afte-  he  had 
signed  the  covenant  at  the  organization  of  the  church,  in  J7-7. 
He  doubtless  was  among  the  first  settlers.  lenjam'n  Her-ick 
died  in  ]  778,  having  ouried  t\vo  c.Mkrren  in  the  cemetery  at 
this  place  in  1755.  only  iiv.--  years  irst  churcli  edifice 

was  built.  No  evidence  h:;s  been  found  -hat  a  settle  1  pnstor 
served  this  church  from  1750  to  i77:-;,  a  ]  r.l  of  twenty-five 
years,  and  it  is  prosalile  t  during  this  time  the  gospel  was 
preached  only  by  such  ministers  of  Christ  as  nri'jht  :oi:rney 
through  this  section  of  oor.niry.  Among  these  was  the  Rev. 
George  Whitefiekl.  In  a  letter  elated  New  York,  July  29th, 


Tl8  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

1770,  he  says  :  "  Since  my  last  I  have  been  above  a  5oo-mile 
circuit,  and  have  been  able  to  preach  and  travel  through  the 
heat  and  dust  every  day.  The  congregations  have  been  large 
and  attentive,  particularly  at  Albany,  Schenectady,  Great  Bar- 
rington,  Norfolk,  Salisbury,  Sharon.  Smithfield,  Poughkeepsie 
and  Fishkill."  Tradition  tells  us  that  church  edifices  here 
could  not  hold  the  people  who  assembled  to  hear  the  most 
wonderful  preacher  of  the  age.  Near  the  church  was  a  grove 
of  oaks,  one  of  which  still  stands ;  under  the  shade  of  this 
grove  the  people  listened  to  this  eloquent  man. 

In  1775  the  church  gave  a  call  to  the  Rev.  Job  Swift,  1).  D.. 
who  faithfully  and  ably  preached  the  gospel  for  more  than 
seven  years.  While  living  and  laboring  here  a  son  was  born 
to  him,  afterwards  known  as  the  Hon.  Samuel  Swift,  LL.  D.. 
one  of  the  most  learned  and  honored  citizens  of  Vermont. 
From  1782  until  1812,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  when 
a  call  was  given  to  Rev.  Eli  Hyde.  The  call  was  accepted 
and  a  council  called  to  meet  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  1813. 
The  following  churches,  by  their  pastors  and  delegates,  were 
requested  to  attend,  viz :  ist  Church  in  Sharon,  ist  and  2(1 
Churches  in  Cornwall,  South  Church  in  Canaan,  Congrega 
tional  Church  in  Southeast,  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Pleas 
ant  Valley,  and  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  Poughkeepsie. 
Mr.  Hyde  remained  pastor  a  little  more  than  eight  years. 
During  his  pastorate,  in  the  year  1814,  the  second  church  was 
built  on  the  site  of  the  old  one.  He  married  the  daughter  of 
his  teacher  and  pastor,  the  Rev.  Samuel  Nott,  1).  D.  She  was 
richly  endowed  by  nature  and  careful  culture,  and  possessed 
great  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Christ.  With  her  originated  the 
idea  of  forming  a  Bible  Society,  for  the  distribution  of  the 
Word  of  God  among  those  destitute,  and  this  idea  took  form 
in  the  DUCHESS  County  Female  Bible  Society,  of  which  she  was 
the  first  President,  and  which  is  still  doing  a  good  work.  It 
was  organized  several  years  before  the  American  Bible  Society. 

From  the  close  of  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hyde  the 
church  was  without  a  pastor  for  more  than  three  years,  when 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  IK; 

the  Rev.  Robert  G.  Armstrong  accepted  a  call,  and  was  in 
stalled  pastor  by  the  Presbytery  of  North  River,  Sept.  20,  1824. 
He  was  pastor  about  seven  years,  being  dismissed  by  the  Pres 
bytery  in  1831,  and  at  the  same  date  installed  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Fishkill ;  in  1840  he  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Hudson. 

The  Baptist  church,  at  its  organization  May,  1790,  seems 
to  have  been  composed  of  some  from  the  old  Congregational 
Church,  and  of  others  who  had  been  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  of  Northeast.  They  chose  Rev.  Elijah  Wood 
for  their  pastor,  who  on  the  2yth  of  June  administered  the 
ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper  to  them  for  the  first  time.  Mr. 
Wood  had  ministered  to  the  Congregational  Church  ;  but  this 
uniting  with  a  new  organization  did  not  sunder  his  fraternal 
iclations  with  the  brethren  of  the  old  church.  He  was  a 
native  of  Norwich,  Conn.,  came  to  Amenia  before  the  Revolu 
tion  ;  and  was  counted  among  the  most  active  patriots.  He 
was  not  a  scholar,  but  a  close  student,  and  an  acceptable 
minister.  In  1816,  this  church  was  greatly  revived  and 
enlarged.  Rev.  Mr.  Peck,  who  officiated  as  pastor  two  years, 
seems  to  have  been  the  active  agent  in  bringing  about  this 
prosperity.  He  was  born  in  Litchfield.  Conn.,  came  to 
Amenia  when  a  young  man ;  engaged  in  teaching  awhile, 
and  then  became  minister  of  the  church. 

The  Methodist  Society  of  Amenia,  one  of  the  earliest  of 
that  denomination  in  this  part  of  the  country,  was  formed 
about  the  year  1788,  and  consisted  of  eight  members.  David 
Rundall  was  the  only  male  member  for  several  years.  The 
first  sermon  was  preached  in  a  private  house,  one  half  mile 
east  of  Sharon  Station.  The  meetings  were  held  in  this  house 
for  a  time  ;  when,  more  settlers  coming  in,  a  society  was 
formed  in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  Red  Meeting  House.  Mr. 
Garrettson  formed  the  first  class,  and  Captain  Allen  Ward- 
well  was  the  first  class  leader. 

The  late  Dr.  Wakely  was  wont  to  call  that  part  of  Amenia 
"'The  Old  Methodist  Classic  Ground."  The  important  position 


120  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

of  this  society  at  that  time  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that 
the  New  York  Annual  Conference  was  held  here.  It  was  in 
1808,  and  the  sessions  were  held  in  the  Round  Top  School 
House,  about  half  a  mile  northeast  of  the  Old  Red  Meeting. 
House.  Rev.  Bishop  Asbury  presided  and  occupied  the 
teacher's  chair,  with  the  school  desk  before  him ;  and  the 
preachers  sat  upon  the  benches  of  the  pupils.  On  the  Sabbath 
the  conference  occupied  the  meeting-house,  when  the  Bishop 
preached.  One  \\r.\-  nd  three  preaches  were  stationed 

at  this  Con f-j  i.u'lies  entertained  len  or  twelve 

of  the  preachers  their  horses;    and  the  community 

were  so  gratified  v.  v.ifer-Jics  thit  a  cornmitte 

on  them  with  "ding  the  Fession  the        and  inviied 

them  to  comj  a  f;vst  church  edif    e  of  this  society 

was  built  in  1812,  in  wrrch  the  New  York  Conference  met  in 
1813,  when  Bishop  Asburv  and  Me  Men  dree  presided.  At 
this  Conference  c'ghty-e-  stationed — the 

Conference  having  been  oh       -..i  s:nce  1808. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  the  freeholders  n>vl  inhabi 
tants  of  the  Precinct  of  Amenia.  on  the  ist  Tresd.iv  of  April, 
1762,  at  the  house  of  ROVA  >::."  Michael 

Hopkins  was  chosen  clerk  of  s  .1  "rec.'nct.  nn.d  Capt.  Stejmen 
Hopkins  was  chosen  Supervisor  ;  Sain L: el  /oiy  and  Jonathan 
Reynolds,  Assessors;  Benj.  Benedict,  Abrih-vn  P.^ine  and 
Moses  Barlow,  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  Corn-d  Winegar, 
Constable. 

In  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  the  patro'ifsm  of  the  citizens 
of  Ameiiia,  was  Taa;iil"e:^ed  by  prompt ne^n  ;ind  almost  entire 
unanimity.  A  committee  of  safety  was  appointed  here,  as  in 
other  town;;.  The  vigilance  of  the  c  was  particularly 

directed  to  the  moreinents  of  the  Tories.  \  mde  prison, 
constructed  of  logs,  was  use  :" 'r  con  ->ccted  persons. 

This  was  buPt  abo  t  of  the         sent  village  of 


-»\    north  of    Ilia 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  I  2  £ 

Amenia,  and  north  of  where  the  turnpike  now  runs.  The 
remains  of  this  prison  were  visible  a  few  years  ago. 

When  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington  reached  Amenia 
the  military  companies  came  together  with  a  spontaneous  will. 
They  were  addressed  by  Ephraim  Paine,  Esq.,  in  a  masterly 
oration ;  at  the  close  of  which  Simeon  Cook,  captain  of  one  of 
the  companies,  said  to  his  men  : — "  Fellow  soldiers ;  the  time 
has  come  to  give  up  our  liberties,  or  to  defend  them  with  the 
musket.  As  many  of  you  as  are  willing  to  march  with  me  to 
the  scene  of  action,  I  will  lead ;  and  I  will  expose  myself  to 
all  the  hardships  and  dangers  that  you  will  be  exposed  to.  If 
any  of  you  are  unwilling  to  go,  you  are  dismissed."  It  is 
added  that  not  one  left  the  ranks. 

In  April,  1777,  the  lead  mines  at  Great  Nine  Partners  were 
explored,  with  some  success,  by  an  agent  of  Congress.  These 
mines  were  on  lands  of  Mr.  Fish,  in  the  present  town  of 
Amenia,  and  were  explored  at  the  suggestion  of  Moses  Harris. 
The  Commissoners  appointed  by  the  Provincial  Congress  were 
Jonathan  Landon  and  Ezra  Thompson,  and  they  employed 
John  McDonald,  an  experienced  miner  from  Scotland,  (one  of 
the  distinguished  family  of  that  name)  who  appears  to  have 
come  over  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  people  in  their  struggle. 
The  work  at  these  mines  was  continued  throughout  the  season, 
as  reported  by  Mr.  McDonald. 

Cornelius  Atherton,  engaged  at  the  Steel  Works,  in  this 
town,  in  September,  1776,  petitioned  the  New  York  Council 
for  the  exemption  from  military  duty  of  his  workmen  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  fire-arms  in  his  contract  with  Congress. 

Among  the  citizens  in  Amenia,  who  rendered  valuable 
service  in  the  wars,  none  were  more  worthy  of  favorable 
mention  than  the  Hon.  Ephraim  Paine.  He  was  from  the 
beginning  employed  in  offices  of  very  high  responsibility  and 
honor.  His  integrity  and  firmness  were  not  less  marked  than 
was  his  Puritanic  simplicity  of  manner.  He  held  that  there 
should  be  no  distinction  in  dress,  and  wore,  therefore,  the 
dress  of  a  laboring  man  in  the  halls  of  legislation,  and  in  the 


122  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

house  ot  worship.  Many  mistakes  are  mentioned,  resulting 
from  Mr.  Paine's  plainness  of  dress.  He  was  at  one  time 
treated  as  a  menial  by  the  landlady  at  whose  house  he  was 
stopping  during  his  stay  at  court  in  Poughkeepsie.  The  only 
rebuke  he  gave  when  she  apologized  was,  "you  should  treat  all 
men  alike."  A  gentleman  who  rode  in  haste  to  the  house  on 
public  business  gave  him  his  horse  to  hold  while  he  went  in  to 
speak  to  Judge  Paine.  Another  was  once  looking  over  the 
Farm  for  Judge  Paine,  and,  finding  a  man  ditching,  asked  him. 
"  Where  is  your  master?"  "  In  Heaven,"  was  his  ready  answer. 
Judge  Paine's  education  had  been  without  the  aid  of  schools, 
but  his  mind  was  disciplined  to  a  habit  of  clear  comprehension 
and  strict  accuracy.  He  was  on  many  occasions  in  his  public 
service  a  valuable  adviser  on  matters  of  finance ;  he  opposed 
decidedly  the  financial  policy  of  Gen.  Hamilton.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Senate  when  he  died. 

Silas  Marsh,  called  "  Lawyer  Marsh,"  was  an  active  patriot 
in  civil  life.  Samuel  King  and  Hon.  .  Egbert  Benson  are 
favorably  mentioned  as  stern  and  true  patriots. 

This  part  of  the  country  was  singularly  free  from  any 
disturbance,  resulting  from  the  near  approach  of  the  enemy, 
or  the  movements  of  the  American  troops.  The  people  here, 
it  is  said,  heard  the  sound  of  the  cannon  at  the  battle  of  Long 
Island,  and  they  saw  the  smoke  of  burning  Kingston  ;  but 
It  "  did  not  come  nigh  unto  them."  The  nearest  encampment 
of  Continental  troops  at  any  time  was  that  at  Pawling  in  1778. 
In  the  summer  of  that  year,  a  large  number  of  prisoners — 
mostly  Hessians,  taken  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga  the  year 
before — were  marched  through  this  town  on  their  way  to 
Fishkill,  where  they  crossed  the  Hudson.  It  is  said  that  some 
of  the  Hessian  soldiers  solicited  the  people  to  aid  them  in. 
escaping  ;  a  few  succeeded,  and  remained  in  this  country. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  war,  a  man  called  at  Judge  Paine's 
in  his  absence,  who  was  suspected  by  Mrs.  Paine  to  be  a 
British  spy.  She  persuaded  him  to  partake  of  refreshments, 
which  caused  his  delay,  while  she  sent  for  two  patriots  to  arrest 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  123 

him.  He  was  however,  an  American  spy,  and  the  committee 
who  knew,  him,  were  obliged  to  use  some  deception  in  plan 
ning  his  escape,  in  order  that  his  character  might  not  be 
revealed.  He  was  sent  under  guard  on  his  way  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  but  managed  to  escape. 

A  young  man  named  Samuel  Jarvis  joined  the  army 
from  Amenia,  where  he  left  a  wife  and  two  children.  He 
afterwards  deserted  into  the  British  lines,  went  to  England,  and 
married  again.  After  almost  a  hundred  years  his  legitimate 
family  here  have  recovered  his  estate  left  in  England. 

In  the  disturbed  condition  of  society  incident  to  the  war, 
lawless  and  rapacious  men  used  the  opportunity  to  indulge 
their  spite,  or  to  gratify  their  greed  for  plunder.  Even  in  this 
safe  retreat,  though  so  far  removed  from  the  armies,  there 
were  instances  of  robberies.  Philip  Nase,  Sen.,  and  his  wife, 
who  lived  where  their  son  afterward  did,  had  laid  up  a  considera 
ble  sum  of  gold  and  silver  money  and  other  valuable  treasure. 
Four  men.  in  the  disguise  of  British  officers  and  soldiers,  came 
one  evening,  armed  with  axes,  demanded  the  key  to  the 
treasure,  and  threatened  death  to  the  family  if  any  resistance 
was  offered.  The  key  was  given  up,  and  every  part  of  the 
treasure  carried  off,  and  never  heard  from  again. 

The  attempted  robbery  of  Capt.  David  Collin,  father  of 
the  late  Capt  James  Collin,  came  to  a  different  sequel.  A 
company  of  robbers,  supposed  to  be  some  well-known  Tories, 
came  to  Mr.  Collin's  house,  in  the  absence  of  his  wife,  and 
demanded  his  money  and  other  treasures.  Upon  his  refusal  to 
give  up  his  valuables,  they  proceeded  to  hang  him,  and  probably 
would  have  carried  their  purpose  to  a  fatal  issue,  but  for  the 
timely  arrival  of  his  wife,  who  saved  his  life  and  their  treasure. 
The  family  have  some  memoranda  of  this  event,  and  of  the 
goods  concealed. 

Henry,  the  oldest  son  of  Philip  Nase,  Sen.,  was  a  Tory  of 
so  positive  a  character  that  he  left  the  country  and  made  his 
home  in  Nova  Scotia.  It  is  said  he  concealed  some  money 
in  great  haste  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  before  going  away  ; 


124  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

when  he  returned  to  get  it  he  was  not  able  to  find  the  place,. 
aid  it  is  supposed  to  be  there  to  this  day. 

Deacon  Moses  Barlow,  and  his  brother  Nathan,  came  from 
Cape  Cod  in  1756.  Before  leaving  there  they  had  been  sea 
faring  men.  They  came  by  water  to  Poughkeepsie,  and 
journeyed  across  the  country  to  this  place.  Their  diary  speaks 

of  a  kind  hospitality 
extended  to  them  by  the 
Newcombs,  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  on  their  way  to 
their  new  homes. 

Caleb  Benton,  of  Guil- 
ford,  Conn.,  purchased  of 
Capt.  Lasell,  in  1794,  the 

House  built  by  De.oon  Barlow.  PlaCC    nOW     OWned     ^    m'S 

grandson,  Myron  B.  Benton.  He  paid  for  the  land  in  specie, 
at  the  rate  of  fifteen  dollars  per  acre,  which  he  brought  with 
him  on  horseback.  When  his  family  removed  hither,  they  too- 
came  by  way  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Soon  after  1750,  Abraham  Bockee,  a  merchant  of  New 
York,  came  to  Nine  Partners  and  entered  upon  land  purchased 
of  his  grandfather  in  1699,  which  has  been  in  possession  of 
the  family  to  the  present  time.  He  was  one  of  the  Colonial 
Justices  appointed  by  the  Crown  as  early  as  1761,  at  which 
lime  he  is  mentioned  as  a  "  Mr.  Bokay,"  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
at  Nine  Partners,  near  a  place  called  the  City.  The  immi 
grant  ancestor  of  Mr.  Bockee  was  Johannes  Bockee,  who  came 
to  this  country  in  1685,  and  who  was  of  that  noble  Huguenot 
stock  that  has  contributed  so  many  families  of  worth  and 
distinction.  Abraham  Bockee,  was  the  father  of  Jacob  Bockee, 
a  grandfather  of  the  late  Judge  Abraham  Bockee,  Jacob 
Bockee,  a  graduate  of  King's  College,  N.  Y.,  was  Captain  in 
the  Revolution  of  a  Company  in  Col.  Willet's  Regiment,  and 
was  a  member  of  the  Assembly  in  1795  and  1797,  where  he 
introduced  a  bill  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  this  State- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


Phenix  Bockee,  a  brother  of  Abraham,  was  Lieutenant  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  died  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1814. 

Capt.  John  Boyd  was  of  Irish  descent,  and  came  from 
Orange  County  previous  to  1769.  He  married  the  daughter 
of  Conrad  Winegar,  built  him  a  house  which  is  still  standing  a 
little  south  of  Amenia  Union,  and  in  which  he  died  in  1817. 

Lemuel  and  William  Brush,  sons  of  Reuben  Brush,  from 
Long  Island,  lived  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  not  far  from 
the  City.  Lemuel  had  five  sons  ;  Perlee,  Jesse,  Platt,  John 
and  Henry.  Jesse  was  an  officer  in  the  Revolution.  John 
was  the  General  John  Brush  who  commanded  the  DUCHESS 
County  troops  at  the  Harlem  Bridge  in  the  war  of  1812,  and 
who  was  afterwards  Major  General  of  the  Militia.  Col.  Henry 
Brush  was  Captain  of  the  Ohio  Volunteers  in  the  war  of  181 2, and 
was  on  his  way  to  Detroit  with  230  men,  100  beef  cattle,  and 
other  provisions,  and  a  mail,  at  the  time  General  Hull  surren 
dered,  August  1 6th,  1812.  Capt.  Brush  had  arrived  at  the 
river  Raisin,  and  was  in  imminent  danger  of  falling  into  the 
hands  of  the  Indians  under  Tecumtha,  through  the  negligence 
of  Hull  to  send  a  reinforcement.  When  notified  on  the  77th, 
by  a  British  officer,  with  a  flag  of  truce,  of  Hull's  surrender 
with  his  army,  including  his  own  command,  he  refused  to 

accept  the  notice 
as  a  u  t  h  oritative, 
escaped  with  most 
of  his  stores  to 
Ohio.  It  is  said 
thatCapt.  Brush  pur 
posely  allowed  the 
whiskey  among  his 

The  Old  John  Boyd  House.  StOrCS     tO     fall     into 

the    hands    of  the  Indians,  which  so    demoralized  them    that 
they  were  unable  to  pursue  the  returning  party. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Carpenter  family  came  from  England 
to  Massachusetts  in  1638.  In  1752  Daniel  Carpenter 
purchased  land  in  Crom  Elbow  Precinct,  near  Salt  Point, 


126  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

where  he  died  in  1777.  His  son  Benjamin,  being  excessively 
annoyed  by  the  Tories,  removed  to  Amenia.  This  was  at  the 
time  the  Tories  of  DUCHESS  County  put  on  such  a  bold  front 
and  gathered  their  forces  at  Washington  Hollow.  Mr.  Carpen 
ter  was  three  times  robbed  by  them. 

Joseph  Chamberlain  came  from  Tolland,  Conn.,  in  i7SS- 
and  settled  on  the  farm  afterwards  owned  by  the  Xye  family. 
He  had  four  sons;  Colbe,  James,  John  and  William.  The 
latter  was  a  captain  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bennington,  Saratoga,  and  other  bloody  fields.  He  lived  on 
the  farm  now  owned  by  J.  H.  Cline.  and  kept  tavern  there. 
which  was  much  frequented  during  the  war. 

Peter  Cline  (Klein),  a  native  of  Germany,  came  into 
Amenia  from  Rhinebeck  in  1760.  He  was  one  of  the 
"  Redemptioners,"  who  paid  for  their  passage  to  this  country 
by  their  services  afterwards,  to  which  they  were  bound  by  the 
captain  who  brought  them  over.  He  located  where  his  grand 
son,  Edward  E.  Cline,  now  lives,  purchasing  one-half  of  Oblong 
lot  No.  43.  at  ten  dollars  and  a  half  per  acre. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Delavergne  settled  on  the  road  to  Kent, 
previous  to  the  war,  and  built  a  dam  which  is  still  visible,  and 
which  yet  bears  the  name  of  the  French  Doctor's  Dam.  He 
took  a  prominent  part  in  the  Revolution,  and  was  Major  in 
the  Fourth  Regiment  of  DUCHESS  County  Militia. 

The  Justices  of  the  Peace,  previous  to  the  organization  of 
the  Precinct,  were  Castle,  Hopkins,  Bockee,  Winegar.  Smith. 
( rarnsey,  and  others.  The  record,  kept  with  admirable  clerical 
skill  by  Roswell  Hopkins,  Esq.,  shows  the  "  actions  determined" 
in  his  official  service,  a  period  of  thirty  years,  to  have  been 
2,564.  This  record  also  shows  the  criminal  penalties  of  the 
age,  which  sometimes  read  ''lashes  upon  the  bare  back." 
These  convictions  were  by  a  Court  of  Special  Sessions,  held 
by  three  Justices.  Sometimes  Justices  from  other  towns  were 
associated  with  them.  The  fine  for  breaking  the  Sabbath,  for 
drunkenness,  and  for  profane  oaths  seems  to  have  been  three 
shillings,  which  went  to  the  poor.  Sometimes  the  penalty 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


127 


imposed    was    that    the    criminal    be    transported    out    of  the 

county. 

The  German  Settlers  and  the  Delematers  had  their  slaves  : 
Jacob  Evartson  had  as  many  as 
forty,  it  is  said.  Most  of  the  slaves 
in  this  town  were  manumitted  in 
the  manner  and  under  the  condi 
tions  prescribed  by  law.  Owners 
were  not  permitted  to  make  free 
and  cast  off  any  slave  who  was 
not  capable  of  providing  for  him- 

House  built  by  Johannes  DeJemater.      self.        Ill    1824,    three  years  before 

the  completed  abolition  of  slavery  in  this  State,  there  were  32 
slaves  in  Amenia. 

In  1764,  the  following  persons  in  Amenia  Precinct  received 
license  to  keep  tavern  :  Samuel  Smith,  Robert  Johnson,  Jona 
than  Reynolds,  Edmund  Perlee,  Stephen  Ray,  Widow  Eunice 
Wheeler,  Samuel  Snider,  Michael  Hopkins,  Simeon  Wright, 
Stephen  Johns.  Icriabod  Paine.  Benjamin  Hollister,  Jun..  and 
Daniel  Castle. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  the  Federal  Co. 
was  organized,  and  a  Federal  Store  established  in  the  north 
west  part  of  the  town,  with  Judge  Smith  at  the  head.  The 
freighting  business  at  Poughkeepsie  was  a  part  of  their  scheme. 
Previous  to  1817,  another  association  was  incorporated,  who 
had  their  head-quarters  at  the  Federal  Store.  Their  first 
operation  was  carding  wool  by  horse  power.  Next  they 
moved  to  the  stream  near  Adam's  Mills,  and  erected  a  woolen 
cloth  manufactory,  using  water  power  to  propel  the  machinery. 
The  late  Capt.  Robert  Willson  was  President  of  the  Company, 
and  they  issued  a  considerable  amount  of  small  bills  as 
currency.  The  property  was  afterward  sold  to  Lawrence 
Smith,  who  continued  the  work  of  cloth  dressing. 

On  the  small  stream  passing  through  the  mountains  west 
of  Leedsville,  some  time  previous  to  the  Revolution,  Capt. 
Samuel  Dunham  had  a  forge,  using  the  ore  from  the  Amenia 


128  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

bed.  It  is  also  evident  there  was  a  forge  at  the  Steel  Works 
as  early  as  1770,  the  ore  being  taken  from  the  same  place.  It 
was  riot  until  1825  that  the  important  works  of  N.  Gridley  £ 
Son  were  commenced  at  Wassaic. 

The  cast-iron  plow  was  introduced  in  the  early  part  of  this 
century,  and  the  first  manufacture  of  them  in  this  town  was  by- 
Mr.  Calvin  Chamberlain,  at  the  City. 

Near  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  Capt.  James  Reed 
and  a  Mr.  Ellis  entered  upon  the  manufacture  of  steel  at  what 
has  since  been  known  as  the  Steel  Works.  They  obtained 
the  iron  for  their  purpose  in  pigs  from  Livingston's  Furnace  at 
Ancram,  the  first  blast  furnace  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

About  the  year  1812  a  company  was  organized  in  this  town 
for  the  manufacture  of  woolen  goods,  styled  the  "Amenia 
Manufacturing  Company."  The  factory  was  located  on  the 
banks  of  the  Weebutook,  at  Leedsville.  Its  ruinous  walls  still 
stand  where  they  were  first  built,  after  all  those  who  instigated 
the  project  have  passed  away.  The  principal  owners  were 
the  Barkers,  Bentons,  Ingrahams,  Parks  ancf  Canfields. 

Shortly  after  the  war,  the  company  issued  fractional 
currency,  of  which  the  following  is  a  specimen : 


AMENIA    MANUFACTURING    CO. 

M 

The  Corporation  of  the  Amenia  Manufactur-  c-a 

ing  Company  prom    ^^^  ^^    ise   to   pay  the  Q 
bearer  on   demand  2iO   T  W  E  N  T  Y~ 

FIVE  CENTS,  in                   current      bank  ^ 

notes,  at  their  store  in  Amenia.  ui 

Geo.  Ingraham,  Jr.,  Agent. 
June,  14,  1815 


The  bill  was  4^  by  2  inches,  and  printed  only  on  one 
side. 

The  failure  of  the  company  occurred  shortly  after,  caused 
partly  by  too  much  rag  money,  and  partly  by  the  diminished 
profits  of  woolen  mamtfacturing,  brought  about  by  the  con- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  129 

elusion  of  peace  with  Great  Britain.  The  bell  of  the  factory 
was  rung  long  and  loud  when  the  news  of  peace  arrived,  but  it 
was  the  death  knell  of  its  prosperity.  The  property  was 
purchased  by  Selah  North,  who  established  the  business  of 
cloth  dressing.  About  the  year  iSiS  the  ''store"  mentioned 
in  the  scrip  was  sold  to  Joseph  Hunt  and  Abraham  Miller,  who 


The  Old  lion-  House. 

•did  business  under  the  firm  of  Hunt  and  Miller.  The  store- 
was  a  large  building  for  those  times.  After  the  dissolution  of 
the  firm,  Mr.  Hunt  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  under 
the  sign  "  Hunt's  Old  Stand."  This  was  the  emporium  of 
'business  for  miles  around.  The  post-office  was  located  there, 
and  a  four-horse  stage  was  a  morning  and  evening  arrival.  The 
building  was  finally  moved  across  the  river,  and  converted  into 
a  gigantic:  barn,  where  it  was  afterwards  burned. 

AMEN1A    SEMINARY. 

The  Seminar}"  building  is  located  in  lot  No.  32.  of  the 
Nine  Partners'*  tract,  and  was  set  to  James  Kmmott,  one  of 
the  Nine  Partners.  James  Kmmott  was  attorney  to  the  King's 
bench,  and  a  member  of  the  Church  of  England.  He  was  the 
ancestor  in  the  fourth  remove  of  Hon.  Judge  Kmmott,  of 
Poughkeepsie.  We  next  find  the  title  of  this  site  in  a  family 
named  Lord,  who  built  a  mansion  where  the  seminary  now 
stands,  about  the  year  1740.  A  son  named  Kphraim  inherited 
the  estate  as  early  as  1760;  when  the  tocsin  of  war  was 
sounded,  this  noble  patriot  took  his  musket,  joined  the  Conti 
nental  arm\'.  served  all  through  the  war,  drew  his  pay  as  a 

*Tha  Nine  1'artners  was  a  land  company  composed  of  Caleb  llcatlicotc,  James 
Kmmott,  Henry  1'ilkins.  llendrick  Tenyck,  Augustus  Craliam,  William  Creed,  John 
Anvtson,  Davi  i  Marshall,  and  David  Jameson,  nine  iin-n  of  \veal;h  and  bi^h  social 
»tanding. 

i 


130  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUXTV. 

soldier  and  sent  the  money  home  to  his  wife,  who,  with  an  eye 
to  business,  laid  it  out  in  land.  Kphraim  Lord  thus  became  a 
large  land  holder  in  the  then  Amenia  Precinct.*  He  had  one 
daughter,  who  married  Simeon  Cook,  and  at  the  death  of  her 
parents  came  in  possession  of  the  entire  estate.  She  had  a 
number  of  children,  the  youngest  of  whom  distinguished  him 
self  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  advanced  to  the  rank  of 
Colonel,  and  who  finally  became  owner  of  the  homestead,  at 
that  time  known  as  Cook  Hill. 

Jn  1832  this  community  resolved  to  have  a  seminary,  and 
the  three  prominent  places  named  were  Amenia  Village,  Leeds- 
ville.  and  Amenia  Union.  Two  full  years  was  spent  in  fruit 
less  efforts  to  locate  the  ground.  In  May,  1834,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  determine  the  matter.  On  Monday,  June  zd, 
they  rendered  a  sealed  verdict,  which  was  not  to  be  opened  until 
twenty-four  hours  after  the  committee  left  town.  The  next 
morning  the  seal  was  broken,  when  it  was  found  that  "Cook 
Hill"  was  the  favored  spot.  The  first  Seminary  building  was 
erected  in  the  summer  of  1835,  and  the  school  opened  in  the 
fall  of  that  year,  with  C.  K.  True  for  Principal.  For  a  por 
tion  of  the  time  since  its  establishment  it  has  been  under  the 
management  of  the  M.  PI  denomination. 

"In  1826  there  was  a  great  celebration  of  Independence 
in  Amenia.  That  was  fifty  years  after  the  declaration,  and  it 
is  now  fifty  years  since  that.  A  procession  \vas  formed  in 
Amenia  Union,  and  marched  under  the  inspiring  strains  of 
martial  music;  down  to  the  old  meeting  house,  a  mile  and  a 
half.  The  house,  which  stood  in  the  highway,  was  packed  as 
full  of  people  as  the  old  square  pews  and  broad  galleries  could 
hold.  The  officials  of  the  day  and  invited  guests  entered  the 
front  door,  in  stately  order,  under  the  sounds  of  Hail  Columbia, 
by  the  band.  The  rest  of  the  congregation  crowded  in  at  the 
two  end  doors. 

"The  Chief  Marshal  of  the  day  was  George  M.  Perry,  who 

*  Amenia  Precinct  was  formed,  from  (jrom  Elbow  1'rocinct,  March  20,  17(i'2.  and 
included  a  part  of  Amenia.  Northeast,  and  the  who:c  of  Washington,  Pleasant  Valley 
Stantord.  and  Hyde  Park. 


HISTORY     OK     DUCHKSS    COUNTY.  131 

had,  in  his  younger  days,  a  military  bearing.  The  presiding 
officer  was  Thomas  Barlow.  Ksq.  ;  the  chaplains  were  Rev. 
Abner  Morse  and  Rev.  Fitch  Reed  ;  the  orator  of  the  day  was 
Robert  Wilkinson,  Ksq.,  who  then  resided  in  Dover.  His 
oration  was  worthy  of  his  reputation  as  a  public  speaker. — 
The  chairman  of  the  committee  of  arrangements,  and  one  of 
the  principal  movers  in  the  celebration,  was  Uriah  Gregory, 
who  resided  then  at  Amenia  Union.  The  singers  filled  the 
front  gallery,  led  by  the  significant  gestures  of  the  old  chorister. 
Thomas  Barlow,  Ksq.,  and  Lewis  Warner  played  on  the  bass 
viol.  They  sung  Hail  Columbia  with  a  patriotism  that  was 
alive. 

"  After  the  services  in  the  church,  the  procession  returned 
in  military  order,  to  Amenia  Union,  where  a  great  feast  was 
prepared  by  Isaac  Crane  and  his  family.  The  tables  were 
spread  outdoors,  under  a  bower  put  up  for  the  purpose.  Mrs. 
Wilkinson  and  a  large  number  of  other  ladies  were  present  at 
the  feast.  The  toasts  were  fired  out  of  a  cannon,  as  usual. 
The  President  of  the  United  States  was  toasted  ;  the  surviving 
heroes  of  The  Revolution  were  toasted,  and  the  memory  of  the 
departed  heroes,  with  a  plaintive  air  by  the  band.  Little  did 
the  company  think  when  they  reverently  called  the  names  of 
two  surviving  ex-Presidents  of 'the  United  States,  who  had 
been  the  authors  of  the  declaration,  that  on  that  very  day  they 
died.  John  Adams  and  Thomas  Jefferson  died  that  day,  just 
fifty  years  from  the  day  when  they  put  their  hands  to  the  great 
declaration." 


BEEKMAN. 


POPULATION'.      1.500.— SOVARK    ACKKS,     17.230. 


EKKMAX  was  formed  as  a  town  by  act  of  March  7, 
1/88,  and  embraced  land  granted  to  Col.  Henry  Beek- 
man.  The  Precinct  of  that  name  was  formed  J  )ecem- 
ber  16,  1737,  and  Pawling  Precinct  was  set  off  in  1768. 
A  part  of  "Freedom"  (now  Lagrange)  was  taken  off  in  1821, 
and  the  greater  portion  of  Union  Vale  in  1827.  It  derives  its 
name  from  the  Beek man  family.*  At  the  death  of  Col.  Henry 
Beekman,  the  tract  was  divided  into  lots  one  mile  wide, 
running  from  the  Rombout  Patent  to  the  Oblong,  and  the  lots 
divided  among  his  heirs. 

Beekman  contains  some  of  the  finest  farming  land  in  the 
county.  Its  surface  is  a  broken  and  hilly  upland.  Limestone 
and  slate  crop  out  at  the  summits  and  declivities  of  the  hills. 
The  streams  are  small  creeks  and  brooks,  tributaries  of  the 
Fishkill,  and  are  bordered  by  wade,  fertile  intervales.  The  soil 

*  The  derivation  of  this  name  is  thus  given  by  a  noted  -writer  :— ;i  Tin's  great  digni 
tary  was  called  Mynher  Beckinan.  who  derived  his  surname,  as  did  Ovidins  Xaso  of  y  ore, 
from  the  lordly  dimensions  of  his  nose,  which  projected  from  the  centre  of  his  countenance 
like  the  beak  of  a  parrot.  He  was  the  great  progenitor  of  the  tribe  of  the  Ueekmans.  one 
of  the  most  ancient  and  honorable  families  of  the  province,  the  members  of  which  do 
gratefully  commemorate  the  origin  of  their  dignity,  not  as  your  noble  families  in  England 
would  do,  by  having  a  plowing  proboscis  emblazoned  on  their  escutcheon,  but  by  one  and 
fill  wearing  a  ritrht  goodly  nose  stuck  in  the  very  middle  of  their  faces."— [Irving' s  Knick 
erbocker  Hist.  X.  Y. 


HISTORY  OF   Di;CHKSS  COUNTY.  133 

is  a  productive,  gravelly  loam.  Sylvan  Lake  is  a  fine  body  of 
water  near  the  west  line.  The  Indian  name  for  this  lake  is 
A-po-qua-</iii\  signifying-  round  lake,  from  which  '"  Ppug-hquag" 
is  derived. 

The  first  settlements  are  supposed  to  have  been  made  about 
the  year  1710:  but  the  early  records  are  lost.  A.  Belong 
located  in  1716,  and  kept  an  inn  at  an  early  dav.  Rt.  Rev. 
Alon/.o  Potter.  Bishop  of  Penn..  and  his  brother,  Rt.  Rev, 
Horatio  Potter.  Bishop  of  the  Diocese  of  New  York,  were 
born  in  this  town.  Lossing,  the  historian,  and  ex-Minister 
DeLong.  were  also  born  here. 

The  Uhls  came  from  German v,  and  settled  in  the  north 
part  of  the  town.  The  Haxtuns  and  Sweets  from  Long 
Island,  and  the  (iardners  and  Reisoners  from  Nantucket, 
settled  in  Gardner  Hollow.  A  family  named  Hogeboom  came 
to  Gardner  Hollow,  but  after  remaining  a  year  removed  to 
Hudson.  The  Bakers  settled  on  Pleasant  Ridge.  The  Corn- 
wells  came  From  Long  Island,  and  the  Noxons  from  Rhode 
island. 

]ohn  Brill  came  from  Germany,  soon  after  marriage,  and 
purchased  a  large  tract  of  fertile  land  south  and  west  of 
Poughquag.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  much  of  the  land  is 
still  in  possession  of  his  ancestors,  the  farms  of  the  Brill 
family  lying  contiguous  to  each  other  from  Poughquag  to 
Green  Haven,  a  distance  of  two  miles.  The  Barnards  moved 
in  at  an  early  date. 

The  old  part  of  the  upper  store  building  at  Poughquag  has 
a  history  worthy  of  record.  It  stood,  at  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  above  the  present  residence  of  E.  L.  Williams,, 
and  was  occupied  as  a  Continental  Store.  Harness, 
powder,  cutlasses,  guns,  cartridge  boxes,  and  other  military- 
stores  were  kept  there.  It  was  guarded  by  soldiers  stationed 
there  for  the  purpose.  A  man  named  Champlain  had  charge 
of  it.  Among  the  other  old  buildings  may  be  mentioned  the 
M.  E.  parsonage  barn  at  Poughquag,  which  was  in  former 
times  occupied  as  a  distiller}-.  Henry  L  Brill  had  a  fulling 


134  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

mill,  on  the  site  of  the  saw  mill  now  belonging  to  Daniel 
Thomas. 

There  was  a  grist  mill  at  Green  Haven  in  the  Revolution, 
kept  by  one  Vincent.  The  Bogarts  from  Holland  settled  here. 
Richmore  Bogart  was  elected  Justice  of  the  Peace,  of  whom 
some  amusing  anecdotes  are  told.  Men  differed  in  opinion 
then,  as  well  as  now,  and  had  recourse  to  law  to  settle  their 
difficulties.  Squire  Bogart  was  soon  required  to  sit  in  judg 
ment  upon  several  cases,  and  uniformly  gave  his  decisions  in 
favor  of  the  plaintiff.  When  asked  the  reason  for  so  doing  he 
replied,  "  Do  you  believe  any  man  would  be  foolish  enough 
to  bring  suit  against  another,  if  he  did  not  suppose  he  had 
good  ground  for  complaint  ?"  However  wise  Squire  Bogart's 
decisions  may  have  been  in  the  eye  of  the  law.  the  result  was 
to  put  an  effectual  stop  to  all  litigation  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  Squire  fattened  considerable  pork  each  year.  He  was 
at  one  time  advised  to  feed  his  hogs  on  what  is  commonly 
known  as  the  "  Jamestown  Weed,"  being  assured  that  this 
would  not  only  impart  an  agreeable  flavor  to  the  pork,  but 
would  cause  them  to  fatten  much  sooner.  Accordingly  he  set 
about  raising  a  quantity  of  the  weed,  and  when  the  lime  came 
threw  it  in  to  the  hogs.  The  result  was  that  every  one  of 
them  died. 

Many  stories  are  told  of  the  Robber  Hoag,  a  noted  Tory 
who  infested  this  vicinity  during  the  Revolution.  He  carried 
on  quite  an  extensive  business  of  horse-stealing,  in  connec 
tion  with  his  other  maraudings.  He  and  his  gang  were 
accustomed  to  enter  dwellings,  and  if  the  people  refused  to 
give  up  their  valuables,  or  to  tell  where  they  were  secreted,  he 
would  tie  them  fast  in  a  chair  and  build  a  fire  under  them,  and 
keep  them  there  until  his  demands  were  complied  with.  Many 
were  so  injured  by  this  treatment  that  they  did  not  recover  in 
years.  At  one  time  Benj.  Noxon  was  going  out  in  the  field, 
and  on  passing  near  a  clump  of  bushes,  heard  the  click  of  a 
gunlock.  A  glance  revealed  the  Robber  Hoag,  lurking  in  the 
bushes.  He  pretended  not  to  notice  the  robber,  and  gradually 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  135 

drew  oft",  and  when  at  a  safe  distance  ran  for  home  with  all  his 
might.  Hoag  was  brought  up  in  the  neighborhood  which  wras 
afterwards  the  scene  of  his  robberies,  and  he  subsequently  told 
the  man  with  whom  he  had  lived,  that  he  had  often  covered 
him  with  his  riiie  as  he  was  hiding  about  in  the  woods,  and 
bushes,  but  could  never  summon  quite  enough  courage  to 
shoot.  After  the  war,  Hoag  fled  to  Canada.  A  number  of 
years  after  he  came  back  to  Beekman,  supposing  that  his  deeds 
had  been  forgotten,  to  visit  the  family  of  a  relative.  But  he 
was  not  forgotten  ;  for  a  number  of  persons  who  had  suffered 
from  him  formed  a  plan  to  kill  him,  and  he  was  forced  to  fly 
to  save  his  life. 

In  what  is  known  as  the  Noxon   Meadow,  tradition  locates 
a  small    Indian  village,    probably   some    of  the   Schaghticoke 
tribe.      Arrow  heads  are  picked  up  in  that  locality ;  and  a  few 
years  since  the  mounds  of  the  graves  were  distinctly  visible. 
Green  Haven,  Poughquag,  Beekmanville  and  Sylvan  Lake 
are    small    post  villages.     Freemanville. 
or   Guinea,   is    a   settlement   of  colored 
people  in  the  mountains  south  of  Pough 
quag.       Charles    Freeman,     a    mulatto, 
was  a  large   land   holder,  and   important 
personage  among  them,  and  is  still  held 
palate.        in  remembrance  by  the  oldest  citizens. 
There  are  three  churches  in  town,  viz:   Baptist,  Methodist, 
and  Roman  Catholic.     An  Episcopal  Church  was  built  in  1852 
on    the  rising  ground  east  of  Poughquag,  was  taken  down   in 
1772.   and  the  material   conveyed  to  Sing   Sing  camp  ground, 
and  there  converted  into  cottages. 

The  constituent  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  at  Beek 
man.*  previous  to  its  organization,  held  their  membership 
with  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Fishkill,  from  which  they 
were  regularly  dismissed.  Their  house  of  worship  was 
completed  late  in  the  autumn  of  1829,  at  a  cost  of  $3,000,  all 

*  There  was.  at  one  time,  a  P.aptist  organization  in  the  Clove,  a  few  miles  from 
Beekmanvillo  It  was  gathered  umler  the  labors  of  .Mr.  I'almer.  and  has  since  become 
extinct. 


136 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHKSS  COUNTY. 


paid,  and  dedicated  in  December  following.  Dedicatory 
sermon  by  D.  T.  Hill, — text  Rev.  xxii  ;  9;  "Worship  God." 
In  February  ten  persons  were  recognized  by  a  council  called 
for  the  purpose,  Rev.  Rufus  Babcock,  D.  D.,  preaching  the 
sermon.  Elder  1).  T.  Hill  became  their  pastor,  continuing  with 
them  until  1843.  The  Duchess  Baptist  Association  has  four 
times  held  its  anniversaries  with  this  church. 

The  Centennary  M.  E.  Church  edifice  at  Poughquag  was 
built  in  1839.  Previous  to  this  there  was  a  small  society  of 
two  or  three  members.  The  corner  stone  was  laid  July  24. 
1839;  sermon  by  Rev.  Mr.  Cochran.  The  house  was  raised 
August  10,  1839  ;  and  the  record  states  no  alcohol  was  used 

on  that  occasion.  At 
the  raising,  one  hundred 
and  fifty  people  dined, 
the  ladies  furnishing  the 
provisions.  Henry  Wright 
was  the  builder:  Oliver 
Smith.  mason.  The 
house  was  formally  dedi 
cated  January  15,  1840; 
six  h  u  n  cl  r  e  d  p  e  o  p  1  e 
KiMM-^ni  church.  present. 

The  Roman  Catholic  Church,  built  about  the  year  1860. 
is  situated  in  the  west  part  of  the  town,  near  the  south  borders 
of  Sylvan  Lake. 

A  Quaker  Church  was  early  constituted  in  this  town  and 
was  known  as  the  Apoquaque  Preparative  Church.  Their 
second  house  of  worship  was  recently  sold  to  a  Missionary 
Society,  and  is  still  used  for  religious  purposes.  The  first 
church  edifice  stood  about  two  miles  east  of  the  second  one. 
in  the  burying  ground  at  Gardner  Hollow.  Morgan  Lewis 
leased  the  land  for  the  first  house  to  the  society,  at  a  rent  of 
"  one  pepper-corn  a  year,  if  demanded."  One  of  the  oldest 
grave-stones  in  the  burial  ground,  that  is  distinctly  legible,  is 
that  of  Dr.  Kbenezer  Cary.  who  died  in  1815,  at  the  age  of  70 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  137' 

years.     The  stone  was  removed  into  this  ground  from  the    old 
grave-yard  south  of  the  road. 

The  following  are  from  the  old  records  in  the  Town  Clerk's 
office  : 

At  a  Town  Meeting  held,  April  7,  1772,  for  Beekmans 
Precinct,  chosen  for  officers  as  follows,  viz  : — Maurice  Pleas, 
Town  Clerk  ;  Joshua  Carman,  Supervisor;  Samuel  Dorland, 
James  Vanderburgh,  Assessors  ;  Simeon  Noxon,  Constable  and 
Collector ;  Thomas  Clements,  Maurice  Pleas.  Inspectors  of 
Intestate  Estates. 

Memorandum  at  this  Meeting — The  parties  living  on  the 
Clove  Road  agreed  to  work  it  as  follows,  viz  : — that  half  of 
the  inhabitants  that  live  below  to  work  to  Andres  Buck's  Lane, 
and  the  other  half  to  work  from  thence  to  Lieut  John  Uhls. 

At  a  meeting  held  April  2nd,  1776,  James  Vanderburgh. 
Ksq.,  Samuel  Dorland,  John  Hall,  Ebenezer  Cary,  and  Eliab 
Youmans  were  chosen  a  Committee  to  retire  and  draw  up 
some  Prudential  Laws  relative  to  height  and  sufficiency  of 
fences  within  this  Precinct,  upon  which  they  drew  up  the 
following  and  read  them  publickly  to  the  meeting  for  their 
approbation,  to  which  the  said  meeting  unanimously  agreed, 
and  ordered  that  the  same  be  recorded.  [Then  follows  the 
laws.] 

April  3,  1787 — Voted  the  sum  of  seventy  pounds  to  be 
raised  for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  this  Precinct. 

April  i,  1788.  It  is  hereby  enacted  that  the  majority  of 
the  Justices  and  a  majority  of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  for 
the  time  being,  shall  be  and  are  hereby  impowered  to  bind  out 
the  children  of  all  such  poor  persons  [as  are  not  able  to  get  a 
livelihood]  as  apprentices ;  and  they  are  also  impowered  to 
bind  out  the  parents  for  such  time  and  times  as  they  may 
think  fit  and  convenient.  Passed  in  open  Town  Meeting, 

J.   OAKLEY,  Clerk. 

April  7,  1789. — Voted  that  the  next  Annual  Meeting  shall 
be  held  at  the  Dwelling  House  of  Henry  Smith. 

The    whole    amount    of    monev   received     bv    us    or    our 


138  HISTORY    OK    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

predecessors  in  office  for  the  use  of  the  common  schools 
during  the  year  ending  on  the  date  of  this  report,  and  since 
the  date  of  the  last  report  for  our  town  is  $311.20  of  which 
sum  the  part  received  from  county  treasurer  is  $155.60,  the  part 
from  the  collector  $155.60  ;  that  the  said  sum  of  money  has 
been  expended  in  paying  the  instructors  of  the  schools  of  said 
town.  The  school  books  most  used  in  the  common  schools  in 
our  town  are  as  follows,  viz:  The  Juvenile  Spelling  Book. 
American  Preceptor,  English  Reader,  Walker's  Dictionary, 
Daboll's  Arithmetic,  Murray's  English  Grammar,  Morse's 
Geography,  and  Historical  Dictionary  by  Ezra  Thompson. 
June  i,  1835. 

ALLEN  BUTLER,    )    Commissioners  of 
LEWIS  ¥..  BAKER,  j    Common  Schools. 

We  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Pawling,  do 
hereby  certify,  own  and  acknowledge  that  Isaiah  Burch, 
labourer,  his  wife  and  children,  is  inhabitants  legally  settled  in 
our  said  town  of  Pawling. — In  witness  whereof  we  have 
hereunto  set  our  hands  and  seals  this  ninth  day  of  June,  in 
the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  eight-hundred  and  fifteen, 

Signed  in  presence  of 
Jacob  Parks,  Silas  Dutcher. 

ARCHIBALD  CAMPBELL   >    Overseers  of  the 

&  Poor  of  the 

SAMUEL  STEBBINS,          )   Town  of  Pawling. 
April  13,  1816,  special  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Adam  Crouse. 

This  day  received  the  name  of  Peter,  a  black  child,  son  of 
Sude,   a  slave   of  Alida  Bogert,  who  was  born  the   iSth  day  of 
February,  1817. 
May  i,  1817.  GILBERT  B.   NOXON,  Clerk. 

I,  George  Cornwell,  of  the  Town  of  Beekman,  in  the 
County  of  Duchess,  and  State  of  New  York  do  manumit  and 
set  free,  and  by  these  presents  have  manumitted  and  forever 
discharged  from  my  service  a  certain  colored  man  by  the 
name  of  Harry,  who  has  heretofore  been  my  slave. 

Sept.  ii.  1823.  GEORGE  CORNWELL. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  139 

Whereas  application  has  been  made  to  us,  Nathan  Miller 
and  Reed  Crandall,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  said  Town  of 
Beekman,  by  George  Cornwall,  who  by  the  above  instrument 
of  writing  has  this  day  manumitted  and  set  free  a  certain 
colored  man  named  Harry,  who  has  heretofore  been  a  slave  to 
said  George  Cornwell,  and  therefore  we,  the  said  Nathan  Miller 
and  Reed  Crandall,  Overseers  as  aforesaid,  do  certify  that  we 
are  personally  acquainted  with  the  said  Harry,  a  colored  man, 
and  that  we  know  him  to  be  under  the  age  of  forty-five  years 
and  that  he  is  of  sufficient  ability  to  provide  for  himself.  We 
do  therefore  record  the  manumission  of  the  above  named 

Harry. 

Sept.  IT.  1823.  NATHAN  MILLER    )    Overseers  of 

REED  CRANDALL   )       the  Poor. 

We  the  Overseers  of  Rombouts  Precinct  do  give  Margeret 
Deen  a  permit  to  go  and  work  where  she  may  best  get  a  living 
and  if  she  should  like  to  be  a  Precinct  charge  we  the  said 
Overseers  of  Rombouts  Precinct  are  willing  to  take  her  and 
provide  for  her.  DERICK  BRINKERHOKF. 

Aug.  5.  1772.  ISAAC  ADRIANCE, 

PETRES  BOGARDES. 

Aug.  10,  1800,  was  born  Dinah,  a  black  girl,  daughter  of 
Susan  now  in  possession  of  '  ZACHARIAH  FLAGLER. 

I,  John  Brill,  of  the  Town  of  Beekman.  do  by  these 
presents  manumit  and  set  free  my  black  man  named  Harry,  of 
the  age  of  twenty-nine  years,  hereby  acquitting  and  exonerat 
ing  him  of  and  from  all  further  demands  for  service  to  me  for 
or  on  account  of  his  having  been  born  a  slave  to  me.  on 
condition  of  him,  the  said  Harry,  becoming  legally  manumitted. 
Mar.  28,  1817.  JOHN  BRILL. 

It  was  the  custom  in  early  times,  in  New  England  and  New 
York,  for  the  inns  to  be  kept  by  the  citizens  who  were  the 
most  wealthy  and  respectable  of  the  people,  very  often  by  men 
who  had  large  farms  and  possessed  the  means  of  providing 
ample  accommodations.  The  public  houses  were  then  not 
.always  located  at  the  intersection  of  highways,  and  there  was 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHKSS    COUNTY. 


seldom  an}-  village  to  give  local  attraction  to  a  tavern.  An 
old  resident  pointed  out  the  location  of  an  ancient  tavern.. 
some  yards  southwest  of  the  residence  of  Daniel  Thomas,  Esq., 
now  near  the  centre  of  a  meadow.  Me  recollected  the  sign 
which  hung  on  an  apple  tree,  near  to  the  inn.  The  road  at 
that  time  ran  close  to  the  house,  but  has  since  been  changed. 
Sixty  or  seventy  years  ago,  the  Doughty  Tavern,  located 
between  Po'quag  and  Beekman.  was  a  noted  inn.  That  and 
the  mill  opposite  was  once  owned  and  managed  by  a  Widow 
Dennis,  who  afterward  married  N.  Doughty,  ancestor  of  the 
present  families  of  that  name.  Doughty' s  .Tavern  was 
celebrated  for  its  good  board,  excellent  beds,  and  ample 
accommodations  :  its  iame  was  in  the  mouth  of  every  traveler 
journeying  that  way.  At  that  time  emigration  from  the 
Eastern  States  was  quite  extensive.  People  travelled  in 
wagons,  usually  in  trains.  As  many  as  twenty  or  thirty  wagons 
were  frequently  in  one  train.  The  custom  these  emigrants 
brought  to  the  taverns  along  their  route  proved  no  small  source 
of  their  income. 

The   Vanderburgb.   mansion,    a  subjoined  cut  of  which    is 

given,  from  a  pencil 
sketch  in  possession 
of  the  family,  built 
some  time  previous 
to  the  Revolution, 
and  raxed  in  1860. 
stood  about  one- 
fourth  of  a  mile 

The  C  1.  Vauuc-rburgl,  House.  noitheastofthe 

village  of  Poughquag.  It  was  one  of  the  first  substantial 
dwellings  erected  within  the  limits  of  the  town,  and  was  a  fine 
specimen  of  the  better  class  of  dwellings  of  those  early  times.. 
It  was  constructed  partly  of  stone  and  partly  of  wood,  with  a 
broad  covered  piazza  extending  the  whole  length  in  front,  and 
a  roomy,  well- lighted  basement,  which  was  set  apart  for  the  use  of 
the  slaves.  In  this  mansion  Col.  j as.  Vanderburgh  had  eighteen: 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  141 

children  born  to  him.  all  of  whom   reached  the  age  of  maturi 
ty,  and  whose  descendants  are  now  reckoned  among  the   most 

J  •  o 

esteemed  and  influential  in  the  county,  and  elsewhere. 

Col.  Vanderburgh  was  an  officer  of  note  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution.  At  one  time,  having  returned  home  sick,  the  Tories 
of  the  neighborhood  deemed  it  a  favorable  opportunity  to 
attack  him.  Knowing  the  location  of  the  bed  he  occupied, 
they  approached  during  the  night  and  discharged  a  volley  at 
the  house,  hoping  that  some  of  the  balls  might  penetrate  the 
siding  and  hit  his  person  ;  but  his  wife,  having  had  an  inkling 
of  the  matter,  had  secured  his  safety  by  placing  a  bulwark  of 
pillows  about  him.  It  is  stated  that  Genera!  Washington  was 
once  the  guest  of  Col,  Vanderburgh  at  this  house,  having 
occasion  to  stop-  there  when  passing  between  Fi.shkill  and  some 
eastern  point. 

On  one  occasion,  his  children  in  company  with  some  of 
their  youthful  neighbors  were  playing  with  the  young  slaves  in 
the  basement.  Among  their  p'aythings  was  an  old  musket, 
with  which  they  amused  themselves  by  pointing  at  each  other 


and  pulling  the  trigger.  The  piece  contained  a  charge  which 
had  been  in  from  time  immemorial.  It.  however,  had  long 
been  used  by  the  children  in  their  play,  so  long  that  it  was 
deemed  impracticable  to  make  it  "shoot."  But,  on  that  day, 
one  of  the  boys,  nicknamed  "  Lud,"  we  believe,  caught  up  the 
gun.  and,  aiming  at  one  of  the  little  darkies,  cried  out  "see 
me  snoot  a  black  crow."  and  pulled  the  trigger.  By  some 
means  the  gun  went  oT.  and  the  little  fellow  was  blown  to 
atoms. 


142 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


Another  relic,  which  some  of  our  older  readers  may  remem 
ber,  was  the  house  occupied  by  Joshua  Burch,  which  stood 
west  of  the  road,  nearly  opposite  the  residence  of  Thomas 
Brill,  Esq.  It  was  built  after  the  old  Dutch  style,  with  long 
rafters,  steep  roof,  with  eaYes  nearly  reaching  the  ground,  and 
stone  chimney  at  one  end,  with  a  fire-place  of  sufficient  capacity 
to  hold  a  saw  log  of  moderate  size.  Burch,  it  will  be  remem 
bered,  was  an  early  settler  and  large  land-holder,  from  whom 
some  of  the  finest  farm  lands  of  Beekman  have  been  handed 
down. 

The  old  Poughquag  Tavern,  (now  the  residence  of  Daniel 
Thomas,  Esq..)  though  of  not  so  ancient  origin  as  those  just 

mentioned,  yet  may 
well  claim  mention 
here.  It  was  built 
about  the  year  i 800. 
by  Henry  Brill.  It 
was  afterwards  con 
sider  ably  remodeled. 

oid  roushquag  Tavern.  l>«t    the  front  appear 

ance  is  much  the  same  as  it  was  originally.  This  was  the  "  half 
way  house"  for  the  line  of  stages,  running  between  New 
Milford  and  Poughkeepsie.  and  was  well  patronized  by  travelers 
and  drovers.  Its  upper  room  has  often  resounded  to  the  tread 
of  the  "light  fantastic  toe,"  and  the  loungers  of  the  bar-room 
as  often  regaled  with  travelers'  stories,  for  which  the  hardy 
adventurous  life  of  those  early  times  afforded  abundant 
material.  The  Noxon  house,  built  about  the  same  time, 
possesses  litttlc  historical  interest. 
It  was  erected  by  Benjamin  Noxon  ; 
and  a  portion  of  the  brick  of  which 
it  is  constructed  was  manufactured 
on  the  farm  on  which  it  stands.  It 
is  rapidly  falling  into  decay,  and  will 
soon  be  numbered  among  the  things  that  were. 

The    Beekman    Cemetery    is    pleasantly    located   on    the 


Noxon  House. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHKSS  COUNTY.  143 

southern  and  western  slope  of  a  gentle  eminence,  north  of  the 
village  of  Poughquag.  It  is  tastefully  laid  out,  and  decorated 
with  evergreens,  which  mingling  with  the  pure  white  marble  of  the 
numerous  monuments  and  headstones,  produce  a  pleasing 
effect. 

Th  Centennary  M.  K.  church  of  Poughquag  stands  on  the 
east  side  and  within  the  enclosure. 

Mines  of  hematite  iron  ore  are  being  extensively  worked 
near  Sylvan  Lake,  and  at  Beekmanville.  Two  blast  furnaces 
are  located  a  short  distance  northeast  of  the  latter  place,  only- 
one  of  which  is  now  in  operation. 


CLINTON. 


POPULATION,    1,793.—  SQUARK  ACRKS.    24.064, 


L1NTOX  was  organized  March  13^  1786.     Jt  was  formed 
f)     from   Charlotte  and   Rhinebeck  Precincts,  and  derives 
its  name  from  Hon.  George  Clinton,  who  was  then  Gov- 
Vo'       ernor  of   the    State.      It    originally  embraced  territory 
much  larger  than  at  present,   Hyde  Park  and  Pleasant  Valley 
having  been  taken  oft"  in  1821. 

Its  surface  is  a  rolling  upland,  considerably  broken  by  hills 
in  the  north  and  west.  Shultz  Mountains  in  the  north  part, 
and  Sippe  Barrack  in  the  west,  are  the  highest  points.  The 
principal  stream  is  the  Salt  Point  Creek,  which  flows  south, 
near  the  centre.  Crom  Elbow  Creek  forms  a  portion  of  the 
west  boundary.  In  the  north  are  several  small  lakes,  the 
largest  of  which  are  Long  Pond  and  Round  Pond.  The  soil 
is  a  slaty  loam  in  the  centre  and  south  part ;  in  the  north 
it  is  a  sandy  loam.  The  principal  post-offices  and  villages  are 
Clinton  Corners,  Clinton  Hollow,  Bull's  Head.  Hibernia. 
Pleasant  Plains  and  Shultzville. 

Two  Irishmen  named  Everson  came  into  the  southeast  part 
of  the  town  over  one  hundred  years  ago.  where  they  put  up  a 
144 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


•grist  mill,  and  erected  a  substantial  stone  dwelling,  both  of 
which  are  still  standing.  They  named  the  place  Hibernia, — 
probably  by  way  of  keeping  alive  the  memory  of  the  land  of 
their  nativity.  A  cut  of  the  mill  is  here  shown,  representing 

it  as  it  was  originally  built, 
since  which  time  considera 
ble  changes  have  been  made. 
Stephen  Sweet,  grandfather 
of  John  Ferris.  Esq.,  of 
\V  a  s  h  i  n  g  t  o  n.  *  was  t  h  e 
builder  of  the  mill.  Eenja- 
oui  Miii  at  Hibernia.  min  Sherow,  who  died  some 

years  since,  at  an  advanced  age,  used  to  tell  about  being  here 
at  the  time  the  mill  was  raised,  which  they  were  three  days  in 
accomplishing.  Many  of  the  beams  are  fourteen  inches 
square,  ofsolicl  oak,  and  are  still  in  a  perfect  state  of  preserva 
tion.  A  fulling  mill  was  established  here  at  an  early  date. 
The  Parks,  the  Porters,  the  Hutchinsons  and  Coopers 
located  at  or  near  Hibernia. 

At  Clinton  Corners  stands  the  old  Hicksite  Church  called 
the  "Creek  Quaker  Church/'  erected,  according  to  the  date  on 
the  roof,  in  the  year  1777.  the  second  of  the  War  of  American 
Independence,  and  therefore  wants  but  one  year  of  being  a 
century  old.  It  is  one  of  the  few  relics  left.  It  is  built 
substantially  of  stone,  and  has  recently  been  furnished  with  a 

slate  roof,  and  considerably 
remodeled  in  its  interior. 
The  house  had  originally 
two  porches,  one  for  each 
door  ;  they  were  afterward 
joined,  and  extended  across 
the  whole  front  of  the  build 
ing.  An  orthodox  Church 
stands  a  mile  or  so  north  of  the  Hicksite  building,  built  after 
the  separation. 


146  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Before  the  first  house  was  erected,  the  people  would  throw 
up  a  pile  of  stones,  and  gather  around  to  conduct  their  wor 
ship  when  permitted  to  do  so  by  the  scoffers  and  enemies  of 
their  faith,  who  frequently  molested  them  in  their  services. 
When  the  church  was  in  process  of  construction,  which  was 
during  the  Revolution,  the  builders  on  several  occasions  ran 
away  to  avoid  being  pressed  into  the  ranks  of  the  army.  Thus 
in  the  midst  of  toils  and  dangers  was  the  church  nourished 
and  built  up ;  and  in  the  church  yard  lie  the  church  fathers, 
calmly  resting  from  all  their  trials  and  persecutions.  The  walls 
of  the  building  are  as  firm  as  when  first  built,  and  with  a  little 
care  will  stand  the  storms  of  another  century.  Within  its 
sacred  enclosure  the  fervent  prayers  of  godly  men  and  women 
have  been  offered  up  to  the  Giver  of  all  Good  for  a  century. 
Men  have  stood  up  in  all  the  pride  and  glory  of  manhood,  and 
passed  away,  and  their  places  have  been  filled  by  others,  until 
three  generations  have  gone  by,  and  yet  the  old  house  stands, 
a  beacon  on  the  ocean  of  time.  May  it  long  continue  to 
stand,  to  light  the  lonely  traveler  journeying  on  to  eternity. 

At  Clinton  Hollow  is  a  quaint-looking  grist  mill,  built  over 
a  century  ago.  by  the  Halsteds,  who  were  early  settlers  in  this 
neighborhood.  Some  of  the  timber  used  in  it  is  nearly  two 
feet  square,  of  solid  oak.  A  fulling  mill  was  likewise  located 
in  the  vicinity.  Grist  mills  and  fulling  mills  seem  to  have  been 
necessities  of  the  people  in  those  primitive  days,  and  their 
location  was  the  nucleus  around  which  the  hamlets  and  larger 
villages  clustered.  Then  an  available  mill-site  did  more 
towards  determining  the  location  of  a  settlement  than  fertility 
of  soil  or  eligible  building  plots.  The  Knickerbackers  settled 
near  Clinton  Hollow  at  an  early  date. 

At  Shultzville  is  another  mill,  probably  not  as  ancient  as 
the  others  mentioned,  around  which  a  village  has  sprung  up. 
Here  is  located  a  Christian  Church  edifice,  built  in  1864,  and 
also  the  Masonic  Hall.  At  Pleasant  Plains  is  a  Presbyterian 
Church,  a  branch  of  the  Pleasant  Valley  church  of  that 
denomination.  The  society  was  formed  in  1837.  of  twelve 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  147 

members  regularly  dismissed  from  the  mother  church  for  the 
purpose,  and  the  house  of  worship  built  about  that  time.  At 
LeRoy's  Corners  is  another  old  mill,  a  store,  and  a  few 
dwellings. 

At  the  upper  end  of  the  Shultz  Mountains,  in  the  north  part 
of  the  town,  a  slate  quarry  was  formerly  worked  by  the  Hudson 
River  Slate  Company,  but  it  is  now  abandoned. 

The  LeRoys  and  Cookinghams  were  early  settlers  near 
Pleasant  Plains.  The  Van  Vliets  located  in  this  town  about 
the  year  1755  ;  quite  a  number  of  that  name  still  reside  here. 

Near  Clinton  Corners  stands  the  mansion  built  about  the 
year  1792,  by  Abel  Peters,  now  owned  by  B.  Hicks,  Esq. 
Peters  was  an  inn-keeper  and  merchant,  and  appears  to  have 
accumulated  wealth  in  the  business ;  and  was  withal,  a  repre 
sentative  man  of  that  class  who  did  all  the  public  business 
required  by  the  people  of  those  primitive  times.  It  is  said 
that  Peters  kept  his  tavern  and  store  in  the  mansion  spoken 
of;  but  this  is  denied  by  a  grand-daughter  of  his,  who  visited 
here  several  years  ago,  and  who  said  the  hotel  and  store  stood 
opposite,  and  have  since  been  removed.  The  Peters  mansion 
was  built  when  she  was  a  little  girl ;  the  brick  was  manufactur 
ed  just  in  the  rear  of  the  house,  the  materials  for  which  were 
thrown  together  in  a  mass,  and  mixed  by  means  of  cattle 
treading  in  it ;  and  she  remembered  driving  the  oxen  for  the 
purpose. 

Standing  near  the  road  leading  from  Clinton  Hollow  to 
Rhinebeck  is  an  old  log  cabin,  built  by  the  Sleight  family,  in 
which  two  maiden  sisters  of  that  name  formerly  lived,  and  both 
of  whom  recently  died  in  one  day.  The  house  is  now  unoccu 
pied,  and  is  probably  one  of  the  first  dwellings  ever  put  up  in 
the  town. 

Agriculture  was  the  chief  business  of  the  early  settlers,  as 
it  has  continued  to  be  of  their  successors.  Most  of  the 
tillable  land  was  easily  prepared  for  cultivation  ;  there  was 
plenty  of  timber  for  their  log  cabins  and  dwellings;  the 
country  abounded  in  clear  springs  and  brooks,  and  it  may  be 
supposed  the  pioneers  had  no  trouble  in  gaining  a  subsistence- 


148  HISTORY  OF  DUCHKSS  COUNTY. 

The  proximity  of  grist  mills  made  it  easy  for  them,  from  the 
first,  to  get  their  grain  converted  into  flour  or  meal,  and  after 
wards  furnished  a  ready  market  for  their  wheat,  the  first  pro- 
duct  that  brought  any  considerable  income. 

Their  sugar  and  molasses  were  furnished  by  the  towering 
sugar  maples  that  graced  the  native  forest  about  their  lonely 
cabins.  Their  plain  but  substantial  homespun  woolen  and 
linen  cloth  furnished  the  family  with  comfortable  clothing. 
Their  leather  was  in  proportion  to  their  beef  and  mutton,  and 
the  bark  for  tanning  was  near  at  hand.  The  skins  were  carried 
to  the  tanner,  marked  with  the  owner's  initials,  and  returned 
to  him  after  several  months.  Then  the  shoemaker  would  make 
his  yearly  rounds,  when  he  would  make  all  the  shoes  for  the 
family  for  a  year. 

Almost  every  article  of  food  required  by  their  simple  habits 
could  be  raised  off  their  farms  ;  their  appetites  were  unpam- 
pered,  and  their  active  life  and  vigorous  health  caused  their 
plain  food  to  be  relished  ;  and  when  anything  was  required  out 
of  the  usual  line  the  considerable  towns  of  Poughkeepsie  and 
Rhinebeck  were  near  at  hand  to  supply  them. 

One  distinguishing  feature  of  the  town  of  Clinton  is  that 
there  is  no  hotel  kept  within  its  limits — at  least  such  is  the 
assertion  of  those  who  profess  to  know.  The  lakes,  of  which 
there  are  several,  afford  fine  opportunity  for  angling ;  and  we 
may  readily  suppose  were  a  favorite  resort  of  the  Indian.  The 
wooded  hills  which  spring  up  in  the  picturesque  landscape 
have  the  same  appearance  as  when  looked  upon  by  the  primi 
tive  owners  of  the  soil.  Removed  from  the  hurry  and  bustle 
of  commercial  life,  as  well  as  from  the  din  and  smoke  of  the 
manufactory,  Clinton  affords  a  fine  retreat  to  one  to  whom 
the  absence  of  excitement,  and  the  free  enjoyment  of  rural 
sports  and  occupations  are  congenial. 

The  following  statistics  may  be  of  interest  : — the  price  oi 
wheat  in  1776  was  five  shillings  a  bushel — just  the  price  of  a 
day's  work  in  harvesting.  Butter  was  ten  pence  per  pound. 
The  wa«-es  of  a  woman  to  do  housework  was  five  shillings  a 

O  *- 


DOVER. 


POPULATION.    2.279. SO.UARK  ACRES.    26.669. 


SOYFR  vras  formed  from  Pawling,  Feb.  20,  1807.  The 
east  and  west  borders  are  occupied  by  hills  and  moun- 
"•^-^P  tains,  and  the  center  by  a  d-jep,  wide  valley.  The 
''--§  valley  is  about  400  feet  above  tide,  and  the  summits  o* 
the  hills  are  300  to  500  feet  higher.  Ten  Mile  River  enters 
the  north  part  of  the  town,  flows  to  near  the  south  boundary, 
thence  turns  east  and  discharges  its  waters  into  the  Housatonic. 
From  the  south  it  receives  Swamp  River,  a  stream  that  is 
bordered  by  swamps  the  greater  part  of  its  course. 

A  ridge  of  limestone  extends  north  and  south  through  the 
principal  valley.  The  principal  quarries  are  between  South 
Dover  and  Dover  Plains.  Iron  ore  is  also  found  in  abundance. 
The  Foss  Ore  Bed  has  been  extensively  worked.  The  Dover 
Iron  Works  formerly  did  an  extensive  business,  but  have  been 
dosed  several  years. 

The  small  streams  flowing  from  the  western  hills  have  worn 
deep  ravines,  and  in  several  places  have  formed  beautiful  cas 
cades.  About  a  mile  southwest  of  the  village  of  Dover  Plains, 
a  small  stream  Mows  down  the  mountain  in  a  succession  of 

149 


150  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

rapids  three  to  twelve  feet  in  height ;  and  at  the  foot  of  each 
fall,  smooth,  rounded  holes,  called  The  Wells,  have  been  worn 
in  the  rocks  to  a  considerable  depth.  The  holes  occupy  the 
whole  width  of  the  bottom  of  the  ravine,  and  the  rocks  on  each 
side  are  shelving  and  slippery,  rendering  a  near  approach  both 
difficult  and  dangerous.  One  or  two  fatal  accidents  are  men 
tioned  as  having  occurred  here.  Above  these  is  situated  the 

DOVER  STONE  CHURCH. 

A  small  stream  of  clear  water,*  after  leaving  a  pond  at  the 
foot  of  the  southwestern  slope  of  Plymouth  Hill,  glides  in  mur 
muring  rapids  nearly  every  foot  of  the  way,  until  it  reaches  a 
point  in  the  mountains  west  of  Dover  Plains  village,  whence  it 
descends  in  sparkling  cascades  to  the  level  fields  below.  This 
small  stream,  in  its  passage  down  this  declivity  for  ages,  has 
worn  for  itself  a  remarkable  channel  through  the  rocks ;  and 
at  a  point  toward  the  foot  of  the  mountain  it  has  wrought  a 
considerable  cavern,  the  entrance  to  it  at  the  outlet  of  the 
stream  being  in  the  form  of  a  Gothic  arch.  This  cavern,  from 
the  form  of  its  entrance,  like  that  of  some  old  cathedral,  bears 
the  name  of  The  Stone  Church — "  Dover  Stone  Church." 
It  is  a  very  interesting  natural  curiosity,  with  romantic  and 
picturesque  surroundings,  and  has  attracted  thousands  of  visi 
tors,  and  will  attract  thousands  more. 

The  "  Church"  is  in  a  wooded  gorge  of  the  mountain  and 
is  reached  from  the  main  street  of  the  village  by  a  pleasant 
lane  that  crosses  the  stream  and  expands  into  a  grassy  acre  or 
two,  well  shaded,  especially  in  the  afternoon,  and  affording  an 
admirable  place  for  pic-nics.  From  this  plat  a  short  and  easy 
pathway,  cut  at  the  foot  of  a  rocky  declivity  and  along  the 
margin  of  the  brook,  leads  to  the  door  of  the  Church.  At  a 
little  distance  the  interior  of  the  Church  appears  black,  but  is 
found  to  be  illuminated  by  a  sky-light  formed  by  a  fissure  in 


*  A  portion  of  this  sketch  of  the  Stone  Church  is  from  the  pen  of  Mr.  Lossinjr,  and 
is  published  in  the  Amenia  Times.  The  views  are  from  sketches,  also  by  Mr.  Lossinjf. 
d  have  been  kindly  furnished  for  this  work  by  Messrs.  DeLacey  «te  Walsh,  proprietors  of 

*  Timf»c 


and  — 
the  Times. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  151 

the  rocks  above.  This  light  is  pleasantly  reflected  upon  the 
rocky  sides  of  the  Church  from  a  pool  formed  by  the  brook  on 
the  floor,  and  reveals  a  fallen  mass  of  rock  which  the  imagina 
tive  observer  calls  the  ki  pulpit."  Out  of  the  arched  door  that 
brook — the  patient  architect  of  the  church — flows  gently,  and 
then  leaps  in  cascades  and  rapids  to  the  plains  below.  The 
sketches  were  made  many  years  ago,  when  the  rocks  which 
formed  the  roof  approached  so  near  each  other  that  the 
branches  of  shrubbery  on  each  side  entertwined.  From 
the  apex  of  this  roof,  many  feet  above  the  floor,  the  cavern 
gradually  widens,  until  at  the  base  the  span  of  the  arch  is  about 
twenty-five  feet.  The  narrow  opening  at  the  top  admitted 
sufficient  light  to  show  the  form  of  the  interior  and  give  it  the 
appearance  of  rays  passing  through  a  glass  dome. 

The  Church  has  two  apartments  :  the  inner  one  was  the 
larger,  being  about  seventy  feet  in  length.  The  mass  of  rock 
called  the  "  pulpit,"  which  seems  to  have  fallen  from  the  roof, 
separated  them.  At  the  farther  extremity  of  the  inner  apart 
ment  was  a  beautiful  waterfall,  over  which  a  stair-case  led  to 
extensive  ledges  of  rocks  at  a  height  of  thirty  feet,  forming 
commodious  galleries  overlooking  the  body  of  the  Church. 
The  floods  and  frosts  have  somewhat  modified  the  aspects  of 
this  structure. 

'•  The  Great  Preacher  continues  the  same  old  service 
within  its  shadowed  recesses  that  was  ccmmenced  ages  ago,  and 
which  proceed  with  the  same  solemn  stateliness  whether  men 
hear  or  forbear.  Day  and  night,  without  ceasing,  vespers, 
midnight  mass  and  matins  proceed.  The  deep-toned  organ 
peals  as  if  it  were  the  wind,  and  the  chant  of  the  choir  mingles 
its  silvery  tones  as  musical  as  the  falling  of  water — trumpet 
and  cymbal  and  harp  peal  and  fade  and  echo,  and  through 
them  tremble  tones  like  the  far-off  voices  of  young  men  and 
maidens  singing.  At  sunrise,  through  all  the  long  Summer 
day,  at  twilight,  at  evening,  and  louder  as  the  night  deepens, 
the  eternal  service  proceeds,  unwearied  and  unbroken  by  the 
watches  of  the  day,  by  the  changes  of  season,  by  the  lapse  of 


152  HISTORY  O.F  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  years,  or  by  the  procession  of  centuries.  Individuals, 
families,  generations,  and  races  come  and  go, — the  Church 
and  its  solemn  monotonies  stand  ;  and  within  its  dark  portals 
the  same  sweep  of  that  awful  and  mysterious  monody  is  still 
there.  The  Indian  hushed,  and  heard  it ;  the  white  frontiers 
man  heard  it ;  and  it  mingles  just  the  same  with  silence,  or 
with  the  shriek  of  the  locomotive  as  it  passes  the  door.  There 
it  will  be  when  these  have  finished  their  work  and  passed  away.' 


Dover  Stone  Church— from  the  outside  looking  in. 

The  Dover  Stone  Church,  like  many  other  wierd  places  in 
cur  country,  has  its  traditionary  legend.  History  tells  us  that 
Sassacus,  the  haughty  sachem  of  the  Pequods  and  emperor 
over  so  many  tribes  between  the  Thames  and  Housatonic 
Rivers,  when,  more  than  two  hundred  years  ago  that  nation 
made  war  upon  the  whites  and  dusky  people  of  Connecticut 
(the  latter,  the  Mohegans,  who  had  rebelled  against  his  author 
ity),  was  compelled,  by  the  destruction  of  his  army,  to  fly  for 
his  life.  Captain  Mason,  with  New  England  soldiers  and 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  153 

allies  from  Rhode  Island  and  its  vicinity,  had  suddenly  invaded 
the  dominions  of  Sassacus.  At  early  dawn  in  June  they  fell 
upon  a  Pequod  fort  and  village,  and  before  sunrise  more  than 
six  hundred  men,  women  and  children  of  the  Indians  perished 
by  fire  and  sword.  The  proud  Sassacus  was  seated  upon  a  hill 
overlooking  the  site  of  New  London,  when  news  of  the  terrible 
disaster  reached  him.  He  and  the  warriors  surrounding  him. 
seeing  no  chance  for  success  in  a  battle  with  the  invaders,  fled 


across  the  Thames  and  westward,  hotly  pursued  by  the  Eng 
lish  and  their  allies,  and  took  refuge  in  Sasco  Swamp,  near 
Fairfield.  The  beautiful  Pequod  country  stretching  along  the 
shores  of  Long  Island  Sound,  was  desolated.  Wigwams  and 
gardens  disappeared  before  the  despoiling  English,  and  women 
and  children  were  not  spared.  Sassacus  made  a  stand  at  the 
swamp,  but  at  the  close  of  a  sharp  battle  nearly  all  of  his  fol 
lowers  became  captive.  He  escaped  with  less  than  a  dozen 


154  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

followers,  and  continued  his  flight  westward.  His  nation  had 
perished  in  a  day.  Only  the  small  captive  remnant  survived 
to  transmit  to  their  posterity  the  traditions  of  their  national 
woes.  Sassacus  and  his  handful  of  followers  fled  over  the 
mountains  into  the  beautiful  valley  of  the  Housatonic,  to 
Kent  Plains,  from  which  they  were  speedily  driven  by  pursuers, 
and  climbing  the  great  hills  westward  of  that  region,  descended 
into  the  lovely  valley  of  the  Weebutook,*  or  Ten  Mile  River. 
There,  on  the  site  of  Dover  Plains  village,  tradition  tells  us, 
they  encountered  a  strong  band  of  Mohegan  hunters,  who  were 
also  trained  warriors,  from  whom  Sassacus  and  his  men  barely 
escaped  destruction  after  a  fierce  conflict,  and  took  refuge  in 
the  watery  cavern  now  known  as  the  Dover  Stone  Church,  a 
cool  and  safe  retreat  at  that  mid-summer  time,  when  the 
stream  was  low  and  the  cavern  was  mostly  dry.  The  Mohegan 
hunters  did  not  discover  their  retreat ;  and  a  week  afterwards 
when  the  latter  had  left  the  valley,  Sassacus  and  his  young 
braves,  who  had  been  joined  by  a  few  other  fugitives,  followed 
the  Weebutook  northward,  subsisting  on  the  fish  with  which  it 
abounded,  and  the  berries  that  grew  on  the  plains.  They 
made  their  way  to  the  land  of  the  Mohawks,  near  Albany, 
craving  the  hospitality  of  that  nation.  That  hospitality  was 
denied.  The  sequel  is  told  by  Governor  Winthrop  in  his 
•'Journal,"  in  which,  under  the  date  of  August  5th,  1637  (two 
months  after  the  destruction  of  the  army  of  Sassacus)  he 
wrote  : — "  Mr.  Ludlow,  Mr.  Pincheon  and  about  twelve  more, 
came  by  land  from  Connecticut,  and  brought  with  them  a  part 
of  the  skin  and  lock  of  hair  of  Sassacus  and  his  brother,  and 
five  other  Pequod  sachems  who,  having  fled  to  the  Mohawks 
for  shelter,  with  their  wampum  (being  to  the  value  of  ^£500) 
were  by  them  surprised  and  slain,  with  twenty  of  their  best 
men." 

Beside  the  Wells,  and  the  Stone  Church,  there  is  a  roomy 
cave  in  the  mountain  side,   the  roof  of  which   is   formed  by  a 


*  Weebutook  signified  u  beautiful  hunting  ground."     Such   was  the  intcrprctati 
given  by  Eunice  Mauwee. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  155 

'large  rock  jutting  out  along  distance.  To  this  is  attached  a 
historic  interest.  In  Revolutionary  times  there  were  about 
twenty-five  Tories  living  in  and  about  the  village.  They  were 
obliged  suddenly  to  leave;  but  instead  of  fleeing  to  distant 
parts,  they  took  to  the  mountain  west  of  the  village,  and  con 
cealed  themselves  in  this  cave.  Here  they  were  to  live  by 
pillage ;  but  their  camp  fire  was  discovered  by  the  sharp  eye  of 
an  old  hunter,  who  was  ascending  another  mountain  on  the 
east  side  of  the  valley.  The  villagers  were  aroused,  a  large 
party  started  on  the  war-path,  and  the  offenders  were  banished 
for  good. 

There  is  good  evidence  for  the  belief  that  the  Schaghticoke 
tribe  of  Indians,  a  remnant  of  which  is  now  living  on  the 
banks  of  the  Housatonic  River,  in  the  town  of  Kent,  Conn., 
once  lived  near  the  Ten  Mile  River,  in  Dover.  Some  forty 
years  since,  Indian  graves  were  visible  on  the  flat  by  the  high 
way  north  of  "Apple  Sauce  Hill,"*  which  would  make  it 
appear  to  be  the  place  where  this  tribe  deposited  their  dead. 
They  were  mostly  Pequods,  who,  after  King  Philips' s  war,  were 
driven  by  the  Connecticut  troops  out  of  that  State,  and  who 
took  refuge  from  their  pursuers  in  the  thickets  of  an  island, 
near  the  Swamp  River  in  the  town  of  Dover.  Tradition 
asserts  that  they  imigrated  by  way  of  Danbury ;  thence 
westerly  until  they  crossed  the  swamp  lands  through  which  the 
Harlem  Railroad  passes  ;  from  thence  directing  their  course 
along  the  west  side  of  the  lands,  through  the  present  towns  of 
Patterson  and  Pawling.  Their  chief  was  Gideon  Mauwee.* 

"  About  a  century  and  a  half  since,  there  stood  on  an  emi 
nence  overlooking  the  Housatonic,  an  Indian,  solitary  and 
alone,  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  scenes  below.  Far  beneath 
him  rolled  the  river;  before  him  were  spread  natural  meadows, 
in  which  the  wild  deer  were  quietly  feeding ;  heavily  wooded 
mountains  on  either  side  promised  an  abundance  of  animals  of 

*A  family  -were  moving,  and  when  passing  over  this  hill  the  wagon   upset.    In  it 
was  a  barrel  of  apple-sauce,  which  rolled  down  the  liill,  and  its  contents  were  lost  ;  and  it 
ever  after  was   known   as  Appie-Sauce  Hill.    Molasses   Hill,  a  little  further  to  the  north, 
:  was  the  scene  of  a  similar  mishap  to  a  hogshead  of  molasses. 
t  See  page  19. 


156  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  chase,  and  the  sparkling  streams  bespoke  multitudes  of 
fish, — in  short,  it  «vas  almost  a  foretaste  of  the  happy  hunting 
grounds  which  constitute  the  idea  of  the  Indian's  heaven. 
Long  he  stood  upon  the  crag,  and  blessed  the  Good  Spirit 
which  had  led  him  hither.  Then  shaking  the  spell  from  him  he 
sprang  nimbly  into  the  depths  of  the  forest."  That  Indian  was 
Gideon  Mauwee,  that  eminence  Preston  Mountain,  and  the 
lovely  meadows  were  in  the  Housatonic  Valley,  into  which 
Gideon  and  his  followers  afterward  migrated.  Still  they  were 
wont  to  frequent  the  vicinity  of  their  former  home.  They 
visited  the  swamps  to  get  material  for  their  baskets,  and  the 
streams  and  ponds  for  fish.  An  old  resident  mentions  seeing 
them  about  Allis'  Pond,  where  they  were  catching  frogs  and 
turtles  and  cooking  them.  The  small  speckled  turtles,  so  nu 
merous  about  the  swam})  in  early  spring,  basking  in  the  sun, 
were  held  by  them  in  great  esteem.  Though,  with  one  or  two 
exceptions,  the  Indians  were  entirely  harmless,  yet  the  children 
of  the  early  residents  used  to  hold  them  in  mortal  fear — the 
appearance  of  an  Indian  causing  them  to  scamper  for  clear  life. 

Each  year  the  overseer  of  the  tribe  would  furnish  the 
women  with  blankets,  then  called  "  squaw  blankets."  When 
they  traveled,  the  pappooses  were  tied  up  and  carried  on  the 
backs  of  the  squaws.  Tabe  Elihu,  John  Warnpee,  Rachel,  and 
Elihu  Mauwee  were  noted  personages  among  them  years  ago. 

The  first  settler  upon  the  Oblong  tract  in  this  town,  was 
Martin  Preston.  He  located  on  Preston  Mountain  ;  the  cellar 
wall  and  part  of  the  chimney  of  the  house  he  built  are  yet  to- 
be  seen.  When  he  first  came  the  valley  in  which  the  village  of 
Dover  is  located  was  nothing  but  a  scrub  oak  plain.  The  land 
was  worth  6d  per  acre,  and  on  Preston  Mountain  it  brought 
i  shilling  per  acre  ;  but  the  old  settlers  prefered  the  mountain 
land  even  at  the  increased  price.  Martin  was  a  mighty  hunter  ; 
sometimes  on  his  hunting  expeditions  he  would  go  as  far  as 
the  Catskill  Mountains.  There  are  many  now  living  who 
remember  him.  He  died  at  a  very  advanced  age.  He  was  a 
great  bee-keeper  and  used  to  make  quantities  of  ;<  metheglin'' 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  157 

of  the  honey.  Uncle  Martin's  metheglin  was  noted  for  miles 
around. 

The  Hufcuts  were  early  settlers  on  Preston  Mountain. 
Hans  Hufcut,  great-grandfather  of  Horace,  bought  lands  of 
Peter  Coons,  and  located  there.  Gideon  Dutcher  located  on 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  Patrick  Whalen.  Silas  Belden 
purchased  1000  acres  at  the  foot  of  Plymouth  Hill  ;  his  farm 
comprised  lands  in  Dover,  Amenia,  and  Washington. 

Mrs.  Dorcas  Belden,  one  of  the  first  settlers,  was  riding 
alone  on  horseback  a  short  distance  above  Dover  Plains,  when 
three  wolves  darted  out  from  the  thick  woods  which  skirted 
the  road,  and  sprang  at  her.  She  put  whip  to  her  horse  and 
succeeded  in  escaping  from  them.  Wild  turkies  at  this  time 
were  abundant,  and  a  few  deer.  Bears  and  catamounts  were 
not  so  frequently  met  with. 

The  Gillets  were  from  Rhode  Island,  and  emigrated  here 
about '1742.  The  Bensons  came  in  soon  after.  B.  Dutcher 
and  Christopher  Dutcher  came  from  Holland.  David  Rose 
came  at  an  early  date,  as  did  the  Tabers  and  Schermerhorns. 
The  Wheelers,  Knickerbackers,  Osterhouts,  Delamaters  and 
Van  Du/ens  are  also  mentioned  as  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Dover. 

It  is  said  of  Epraim  Wheeler  that  he  built  a  house  for  the 
Methodist  parsonage  near  where  William  Ketcham  lives. 
Kphraim  Wheeler,  Jim.,  died  at  the  age  of  101  years. 

The  village  of  Dover,  as  it  was  seventy-five  years  ago,  is 
thus  described: — A  small  house  near  where  the  Shunpike* 
now  rims  ;  then  Mr.  Cornelius  Dutcher's  house  ;  a  house  where 
Perry's  school  is  ;  one  where  Dr.  Berry  now  lives  :  a  small  red 
house  on  the  corner;  a  small  house  on  the  right  side  of  high 
way,  built  by  Major  Livingston  ;  an  old  store  below  the  corner; 
another  small  house  occupied  by  Jonathan  Mabbett  ;  then  the 
residence  of  James  Ketcham,  grandfather  of  John  H. 
Ketcham  ;  next  the  school-house  and  church  south  of  the 
bridge  and  near  the  cemeterv. 


158  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Mrs.  Joseph  Belden  saw  Burgoyne's  captive  army  as  it 
passed  through  the  town  enroute  for  Fishkill.  They  encamped 
on  the  plain,  and  she  remembered  how  the  tents  looked  that 
were  pitched  there. 

It  is  said  that  Gideon  Osterhout  and  Derick  Dutcher  bet 
their  farms  upon  the  result  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution  .. 
Dutcher  lost  and  gave  up  his  farm. 

A  tribe  of  Indians  lived  on  the  plains,  probably  a  remnant, 
of  the  Schaghticokes.  On  the  farm  of  William  Taber  there 
was  an  Indian  orchard,  and  another  near  Luther  Holley's. 

Horse-racing  was  indulged  in  here  to  a  great  extent,  the 
straight,  level  roads  being  well  adapted  to  that  kind  of  sport. 
An  extensive  tanner}'  was  located  at  Dover,  near  the  cemetery 
grounds. 

Capt.  Miller  bought  lands  in  Butt's  Hollow,  paying  $10 
per  acre,  when  land  on  the  Plains  was  worth  only  $3  per  acre. 

Thomas  and  Alice  Casey  came  from  Rhode  Island  about 
the  middle  of  the  last  century.  They  settled  on  Chestnut 
Ridge,  where  they  purchased  a  tract  of  one  thousand  acres. 
Their  daughter,  grandmother  of  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lossing,  came 
on  horseback,  in  company  with  thirteen  others,  including  six- 
blacks,  the  whole  distance  from  Long  Island.  Their  goods 
were  brought  by  way  of  Poughkeepsie. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  DUCHESS  County  was  a  girl 
named  Emigh.  Her  parents  resided  in  Fishkill.  She  married 
a  Lossing,  from  whom  is  descended  the  family  of  Lossings  of 
which  the  historian  of  that  name  is  an  honored  representative. 
That  gentleman  has  in  his  possession  an  Indian  deed,  granted 
to  some  of  his  ancestors,  for  a  large  tract  of  land  extending 
from  the  Hudson  River  to  the  Connecticut  line,  being  the  same 
territory  afterwards  covered  by  the  Rombout  and  Bcekman- 
Patents. 

On  the  farm  of  Mr.  Lossing  is  a  barn  built  in  1783,  still 
sound  and  staunch,  though  ancient  in  appearance. 

Dr.  Konkiput,  a  Scaghticoke  Indian,  educated  by  the 
Moravians,  used  frequently  to  encamp  on  the  Ridge.  He 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


possessed  quite  a  reputation   as  a  physician,  and    many  people 
now  living  recollect  going  to  him  for  medicines. 

Jacob  Van  Camp  and  Derick  Dutcher  were  living    in   the 


north    part  of  Dover  previous  to 
their  houses  near  Plymouth  Hill. 


1731.      An  old  map  shows 


The  old  house 
north  o  f  P  h  i  1  i  p 
Hoag's  was  built  in 
1751.  as  shown  by 
date  on  chimney,  by 
H  e  ndri  ck  Dutcher 
It  is  said  to  be  t lu 
ckiest  house  in  town5" 

Oldest  House  in  Town-as  originally  built.  a,K|  has  been  tenanted 

till  within  a  year  or  so.  The  house  is  32  x  24  feet,  and 
formerly  had  a  chimney  in  it  the  base  of  which  measured  14  x 
12  feet — just  half  the  width  of  the  house,  and  nearly  half  the 
length.  Its  appearance  has  been  somewhat  modified  in  later 
years  by  the  addition  of  some  windows.  When  Washington 
evacuated  Boston,  he  passed  with  a  portion  of  his  command, 
so  tradition  says,  by  the  road  leading  west  from  Wings  Station. 
His  troops  encamped  for  the  night  on  the  hill  across  the  brook 
west  from  Philip  Hoag's  on  both  sides  of  the  road.  Washing 
ton  took  up  his  quarters  in  the  old  house  just  mentioned,  which 
though  located  on  another  road,  stood  in  full  view  of  the 
encampment.  The  chamber  window  shown  in  the  cut  opened 
into  the  room  occupied  by  the  Commander-in-chief,  through 
which  he  could  easily  observe  the  movements  of  his  soldiers. 

Elder  Waldo,  a  Baptist  preacher,  lived  at  that  time  where 
the  Misses  Hoag  now  reside.  He  carried  all  the  milk  pro 
duced  by  several  cows  into  camp,  together  with  other  provisions, 
and  distributed  the  articles  among  the  soldiers  ;  told  them 
where  he  lived,  and  invited  them  to  come  to  his  house  and  get 
whatever  they  wanted  to  eat.  Many  of  them  did  so.  and 
partook  of  his  generosity  ;  and  to  their  credit  be  it  said,  noth 
ing  about  the  premises  was  in  the  least  disturbed  by  them. 


i6o 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


A  family  named  Elliott  lived  on  the  place  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  Philip  Hoag.  They  were  less  free  with  their  provisions 
than  Waldo,  and  went  to  the  officers  with  the  request  that  the 
soldiers  be  entirely  kept  off  their  grounds.  The  result  was 
that  not  a  chicken  or  scarcely  any  other  eatable  was  left  about 
the  premises,  the  troops  making  a  clean  sweep  of  everything 
the  Elliots  possessed ;  and,  notwithstanding  their  earnest 
entreaties,  the  officers  paid  no  heed  to  their  complaints.  An 
old  resident  says  that  Luther  Sheldon,  who  was  seven  years 
old  at  the  time  mentioned,  often  related  to  him  the  incidents  of 
the  occasion.  The  next  day  was  rainy,  and  they  remained 
there  until  the  following  morning.  The  fields  bordering  the 
road  at  the  place  of  encampment  were,  at  that  time,  covered, 
with  timber,  nearly  all  of  which  was  cut  down  by  the  troops, 
and  used  for  their  camp-fires. 

It  is  related  of  Elder  Waldo  that  on  one  occasion  he  went 
to  the  store,  where  he  saw  some  coffee  beans — an  article  then 
but  little  known.  The  Elder  enquired  what  they  were,  and 
concluded  to  try  a  quart  or  so.  He  took  them  home,  put  the 
whole  quantity  into  the  pot.  and  proceeded  to  cook  them  as 
one  would  field  beans ;  but  after  boiling  several  hours,  he 
found  they  were  as  hard  as  ever.  Finally,  his  patience  be 
came  exhausted,  and  he  took  them  back  to  the  store  in  disgust, 
saying  that  they  were  worthless — he  could  never  boil  them  soft. 
About  one-half  mile  east  of  Wing  Station,  on  the  Harlem 

Railroad,  stands  the  famous 
*'  Morebouse  Tavern"  of  the 
Revolutionary  period.  It  is 
located  upon  the  then  chief 
highway  from  Hartford  to 
Fishkill.  over  which  military 
officers,  troops,  and  other 
travelers  passed.  Under  its 


roof  many 
army  have  slept. 


of  the  general  offi- 
There  Washington, 


Gates.  Putnam,  Arnold,   Heath.  Parsons.  Lafayette  and  other 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  l6l 

distinguished  leaders  have  been  entertained  and  there  Rocham- 
foeau  and  his  officers  have  lodged.* 

In  a  rare  work  entitled  "Travels  in  North  America  in  the 
years  1780,  1781,  and  1782,"  by  the  Marquis  De  Chastellux,  a 
French  general  officer  under  Rochambeau,  who  travelled 
extensively  in  this  country,  is  a  journal,  written  by  that  officer 
in  his  wanderings,  which  was  printed  on  board  of  the  French 
fleet  before  it  left  American  waters.  Only  twenty  copies  were 
printed,  for  the  use  of  his  friends.  One  of  them  fell  into  the 
hands  of  an  English  traveler  in  America,  who  translated  the 
book  and  published  it  in  London  in  1787.  In  it  the  Marquis 
describes  two  of  his  visits  at  Morehouse's  Tavern.  His  first 
visit  was  in  December,  1780,  when  he  was  on  his  journey  from 
Rhode  Island,  where  the  French  troops  had  debarked,  to 
Fishkill,  to  visit  Washington  at  his  headquarters  at  New 
Windsor,  on  the  Hudson. 

De  Chastellux  says  he  crossed  the  Housatonic  River  at 
'•  Bull's  Iron  Works,"  (now  Bull's  Bridge).  "  We  soon  met 
with  another,  called  Ten  Mile  River,  which  falls  into  this,  and 
which  we  followed  for  two  or  three  miles,  and  then  came  in 
sight  of  several  handsome  houses,  forming  a  part  of  the 
district  called  The  Oblong.  The  inn  I  was  going  to  is  in  the 
Oblong, f  but  two  miles  further  on.  It  is  kept  by  Colonel 
Morehouse  ;  for  .nothing  is  more  common  in  America  than  to 
see  an  inn  keeper  a  Colonel ;  they  are,  in  general,  Militia 
Colonels,  chosen  by  the  militia  themselves,  who  seldom  fail  to 
entrust  the  command  to  the  most  esteemed  and  most  credita 
ble  citizens."  He  said  he  pressed  forward  his  horses  to  get  the 
start  of  a  traveler  who  had  joined  him  on  the  road,  that  he 
might  secure  lodgings,  when,  to  his  great  satisfaction,  his 
companion  did  not  stop.  He  found  the  tavern  wholly 
occupied,  however,  by  some  New  Hampshire  farmers,  who 
were  driving  some  two  hundred  and  fifty  oxen  from  their  State 
to  the  army.  "  The  farmers,  their  horses,  and  their  dogs,"  he 

*  Lossinsr. 

t  The    Marquis  must  have  been   misinformed,  as  t'ie  house  does  not  stand   in  the 
Oblong. 


1 62  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS     COUNTY. 

said,  "  had  possession  of  the  inn."  They  occupied  all  the 
rooms  and  all  the  beds  ;  and  he  was  in  great  distress,  when  a 
"  tall,  fat  man,  the  principal  person  amongst  them,  being 
informed  who  I  was,  came  to  me  and  assured  me  that  neither 
he  nor  his  companions  would  ever  suffer  a  French  general 
officer  to  want  a  bed,  and  that  they  would  rather  sleep  on  the 
floor."  The  result  was  that  Chastellux  and  his  aid?s-ds-camp 
had  a  double  bedded  room. 

The  Marquis  passed  over  the  high  hills  the  next  morning, 
into  The  Clove,  and  going  through  Beekman,  where  were 
"  several  pretty  farms  and  some  mills,"  and  Hopewell. 
;'  inhabited  chiefly  by  Dutch  people,"  he  reached  Fishkill  at 
four  o'clock. 

The  second  visit  of  De  Chastellux  to  Morehouse's  Tavern, 
was  in  December,  two  years  later,  whilst  he  was  again  on  his 
way  from  Rhode  Island  to  the  headquarters  of  Washington, 
then  at  Newburgh.  The  war  had  ceased ;  the  preliminaries 
of  peace  had  been  arranged  between  the  United  States,  Great 
Britain  and  France,  and  the  French  allies  were  about  to 
depart  from  America.  The  Marquis  had  taken  his  usual  route 
from  Hartford,  through  Litchfield,  down  the  Housatonic  to 
Bull's  Bridge,  and  so  along  the  Ten  Mile  River  to  More- 
house's.  "  On  this  occasion."  says  De  Chastellux,  "  I  had  not 
much  reason  to  boast  of  the  tavern.  Colonel  Morehouse,  after 
whom  it  was  named,  no  longer  kept  it.  but  had  resigned  it  to 
his  son,  who  was  absent,  so  there  were  none  but  women  in  the 
house.  Mr.  Dillon  [a  traveling  companion],  who  had  gone  on 
a  little  before,  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in  the  world  to 
persuade  them  to  kill  some  chickens  ;  our  supper  was  but  indif 
ferent  ;  and  when  it  was  over,  and  we  got  near  the  fire,  we  saw 
these  women,  to  the  number  of  four,  take  our  place  at  the 
table,  and  eat  the  remainder  of  it,  with  an  American  dragoon. 
who  was  stationed  there.  This  gave  us  some  uneasiness  for 
our  servants,  to  whom  they  left,  in  fact,  a  very  trifling  portion. 
On  asking  one  of  them,  a  girl  of  sixteen,  and  tolerably  hand 
some,  some  questions  the  next  morning,  I  learned  that  she,  as 


HISTORY  OF   DUCHESS  COUNTY.  163 

well  as  her  sister,  who  was  something  older,  did  not  belong  to 
the  family;  but  that  having  been  driven  from  the  neighbor 
hood  of  Wyoming,  where  they  lived,  they  had  taken  refuge  in 
this  part  of  the  country  where  they  worked  for  a  livelihood ; 
and  that  being  intimate  with  Mrs.  Morehouse,  they  took 
pleasure  in  helping  her  when  there  were  many  travelers,  for 
this  road  is  at  present  much  frequented." 

The  settlers  in  Wyoming  Valley,  in  Pennsylvania,  whence 
these  girls  had  come,  were  chiefly  families  from  Connecticut. 
That  beautiful  valley  was  desolated  with  fire,  gun  and  toma 
hawk,  in  the  summer  1777,  by  Tories  and  Indians  under 
Colonel  John  Butler.  They  burned  the  dwellings,  murdered 
many  of  the  inhabitants  and  carried  away  women  and  children  as 
captives.  The  survivors  fled  eastward  over  the  Pocono  Moun 
tains,  suffering  dreadful  hardships  in  the  wilderness.  Men, 
women  and  children  made  their  way  back  to  Connecticut  on 
foot.  A  large  portion  of  them  crossed  the  Hudson  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  through  Holt's  New  York  Journal,  then  published 
there,  their  tale  of  horror,  with  all  the  exaggerations  which 
fear  and  suffering  and  excited  imagination  gave  it,  the  story 
was  given  to  the  world. 

l)e  Chastellux  says  that,  observing  the  poor  girl's  eyes  filling 
with  tears  as  she  spoke  of  her  misfortunes,  he  became  more 
interested,  and  desired  more  particulars.  She  told  him  that 
her  brother  was  murdered  almost  before  her  eyes,  and  that  she 
had  barely  time  to  save  herself  by  running  as  fast  as  she  could ; 
that  she  and  her  sister  traveled  in  this  manner  fifty  miles,  with 
their  feet  covered  with  blood,  before  they  found  a  house.  They 
experienced  kindness  everywhere  on  the  way,  and  now  wanted 
nothing  except  clothing. 

"  Lodgings  and  nourishment  are  never  wanting  in  this 
country,"  the  Marquis  wrote.  "  Clothing  is  more  difficult  to 
procure,  from  the  dearness  of  all  sorts  of  stuffs  ;  but  for  this 
they  strive  to  find  a  substitute  in  their  own  labor.  I  gave  them 
a  Louis  [about  four  dollars  and  a  half]  to  buy  some  articles  of 
dress  with  ;  my  aides-de-camp,  to  whom  I  communicated 


164  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  story,  made  them  a  present  likewise  ;  and  this  little  act  of 
munificence  being  soon  known  to  the  mistress  of  the  house, 
obtained  her  esteem,  and  she  appeared  very  penitent  about 
having  shown  so  much  repugnance  to  kill  her  chickens  " 

The  Marquis  and  his  companion  set  out  from  Morehouse's 
in  the  morning  at  nine  o'clock,  and  reached  Fishkill  Village  at 
half-past  two.  having  ridden  twenty-four  miles  without  stopping. 
They  alighted  at  Boerum's  Tavern,  (formerly  kept  by  Mrs. 
Egremont,)  where  they  supped,  and  crossed  the  Hudson  at 
twilight.  There  at  the  headquarters  (the  old  Hasbrouck 
house)  they  found  General  Washington  and  wife,  Colonel 
Tilghman,  Colonel  Humphreys,  and  Colonel  Walker.  The 
writer  describes  the  famous  room  with  seven  doors  and  one 
window.  Washington  used  it  as  a  dining  room.  '"  The 
chimney,"  says  Da  Chastellux,  "  or  rather  the  chimney  back,  is 
against  the  wall,  so  that  there  is,  in  fact,  but  one  vent  for  the 
smoke,  and  the  fire  is  in  the  room  itself." 

The  Marquis  makes  the  following  observations  on  the 
subject  of  agriculture  in  DUCHESS,  which  he  obtained  from  the 
landlord  :  "  The  land  is  very  fertile  in  DUCHESS  County,  of 
which  Poughkensie  (Poughkeepsie)  is  the  capital,  as  well  as 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  but  it  is  commonly  left  fallow  one 
year  out  of  two  or  three,  less  from  necessity  than  from  there 
being  more  land  than  the  farmers  can  cultivate.  A  bushel  of 
wheat,  at  most,  is  sown  upon  an  acre,  which  renders  twenty 
and  five-and-twenty  for  one.  Some  farmers  sow  oats  on  the 
land  that  has  borne  wheat  the  preceding  year,  but  this  grain  in 
general  is  reserved  for  lands  newly  turned  up.  Flax  is  also  a 
considerable  object  for  cultivation.  The  land  is  plowed  with 
horses,  two  or  three  to  a  plow,  sometimes  even  a  greater 
number  when  on  new  land,  or  that  which  has  long  lain  fallow." 
(The  Marquis  spelled  DUCHESS  without  the  superfluous  /.) 

De  Chastellux  passed  through  Poughkeepsie  on  his  way 
from  Fishkill  Landing  to  Albany,  He  speaks  of  the  -beauty  of 
the  scenery  at  Wappingers  Falls.  "  There  I  halted  a  few 
minutes,"  he  wrote,  "  to  consider,  under  different  points  of 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  165 

view,  the  charming  landscape  formed  by  the  river,  as  well  as 
from  its  cascade,  which  is  roaring  and  picturesque,  as  from  the 
groups  of  trees  and  rocks,  which,  combined  with  a  number  of 
saw-mills  and  furnaces,  compose  the  most  capricious  and 
romantic  prospect.  It  was  only  half  past  three  when  I  got  to 
Poughkensie,  where  I  intended  sleeping,  but  finding  that  the 
sessions  [of  the  county  court]  were  then  holding,  and  that  all 
the  taverns  were  full,  I  took  advantage  of  the  little  remaining 
day  to  reach  a  tavern  I  was  told  of  at  three  miles  distance." 

After  mentioning  incidents  on  the  way  to  Staatsburgh, 
Rhinebeck,  Livingston's  Manor  and  Claverack,  he  tells  us  that 
he  arrived  at  the  Dutch  settlement  of  Kinderhook,  where  he 
had  the  choice  of  three  or  four  taverns.  He  chose  Van 
Buren's.  "  The  preference  for  this,  however,  does  no  honor  to 
the  others."  he  says.  "It  is  a  very  small  house,  kept  by  two 
young  people  of  a  Dutch  family  ;  they  are  civil  and  attentive, 
and  you  are  not  badly  off  with  them,  provided  you  are  not 
difficult  to  please.  It  would  have  ill  become  me  now  to  have 
been  so,  for  I  had  nothing  but  snow,  hail,  and  frost  during  the 
whole  day.  and  a  fireside  was  an  agreeable  asylum  for  me." 

The  "  young  people  "  here  spoken  of  were  the  parents  of 
Martin  Van  Buren,  President  of  the  United  States.  He  was 
at  the  time  of  the  visit  of  the  Marquis  only  twenty  days  old. 

Late  in  1757,  Flder  William  M.  Marsh,  of  Lyons  Farms, 
N,  J.,  met  by  request  a  number  of  Baptists  at  a  place  spoken 
of  in  the  old  church  records  as  "  Batemans  Precinct,"  who 
were  by  him  constituted  into  a  church.  This  society  has 
continued  up  to  the  present  time,  and  is  now  known  as  the 
First  Baptist  Church  of  Dover.  In  January  following,  Samuel 
Waldo  was  licensed  to  preach  for  them,  and  was  subsequently 
chosen  Elder  ;  in  May  of  that  year  he  was  ordained  by  letter. 

In  September  they  resolved  on  building  a  house  of  worship, 
thirty  feet  by  forty.  This  was  known  as  the  Red  Meeting 
House,  and  stood  near  the  old  cemetery  grounds,  on  the  brow 
of  the  hill  nearly  east  from  the  present  church  edifice.  The 
road  has  been  changed  since  the  first  church  was  built, 


1 66  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

and  then  ran  close  to  it.  The  Red  Meeting  House  was  for  a 
number  of  years  the  only  place  of  worship  in  what  is  now  the 
town  of  Dover ;  all  contributed  to  its  erection,  irrespective  of 
church  or  creed ;  and  it  was,  in  effect  a  union  church,  as  will 
appear  from  the  following,  taken  from  the  records  :  "  Voted, 
that  we  are  free  for  any  improvement  of  public  gifts  among  us, 
let  their  denomination  be  what  it  will,  provided  they  are  under 
suitable  recommendation." 

In  1761  this  church  records  ''eighteen  baptized,  fifty-one 
members,  four  hundred  hearers."  At  that  time  it  belonged  to 
the  Philadelphia  Baptist  Association,  composed  of  twenty-nine 
churches,  and  was  the  fourth  church,  in  the  order  of  their 
size,  of  all  that  number.  A  few  years  afterward  the  question 
arose  as  to  the  obligation  of  members  of  the  church  to  conduct 
family  worship,  a  question  that  caused  a  serious  division  of 
sentiment  for  several  years.  In  1774,  the  church  settled  the 
matter  by  a  vote,  which  was  to  the  effect  that  vocal  prayer  in 
families  was  binding  upon  all  members  thereof. 

Waldo  is  spoken  of  as  a  powerful  preacher,  and  an  influen 
tial  man.  In  1784,  he  was  moderator  of  the  As:  ocation.  He 
was  about  twenty-six  years  of  age  when  he  commenced  his 
ministry  at  Dover ;  he  continued  his  labors  with  great  success 
with  that  church  until  his  death —  a  period  of  more  than  thirty- 
five  years.  His  ashes  and  those  of  his  beloved  companion, 
Hannah,  repose  in  the  old  cemetery  ground,  near  the  site  of 
the  Red  Meeting  House,  wherein  so  much  of  his  ministerial 
labor  was  performed. 

August  2,  1759 — "Voted  to  commune  with  the  church*  of 
which  Simon  Dakin  is  pastor."  September  6,  1764,  the  breth 
ren  living  in  the  "  upper  end  of  the  Oblong  "  formed  a  separate 
church,  which  soon  became  extinct.  In  1794,  still  another  so 
ciety  was  constituted  by  members  of  this  church,  which  is  now 
known  as  the  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Dover.  Sept.  13, 
1800,  Klder  Detherick  became  pastor.  In  1812,  Elisha 
Booth  wiis  ordained  pastor  at  the  Red  Meeting  House.  In 

*  Northeast  Baptist  Cluircli. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  167 

the  following  year,  Elders  Booth  and  Job  Foss  were  called  to 
preach  on  alternate  Sabbaths.  Elder  Foss  was  disowned  in 
1817.  He  was  then  a  large  landholder  in  the  vicinity  of  what 
is  now  called  the  Foss  Ore  Bed. 

The  following  are  statistics  of  the  First  Dover  Church : — 
The  present  house  of  worship — the  third  since  the  society  was 
organized — was  built  in  1855,  at  a  cost  of  $4,564.  Present 
membership  about  ninety.  Rev.  I.  N.  Hill,  pastor. 

As  before  stated,  the  Second  Dover  Baptist  Church  was 
organized  in  1794,  on  the  3d  of  August.  Elder  Samuel 
Waldo,  then  stationed  at  First  Dover,  was  probably  the  first 
Baptist  minister  that  preached  there.  Elder  Seth  Higby  was 
their  first  pastor,  continuing  with  them  six  years.  A  few  months 
after  its  organization  the  church  voted  to  become  a  corporate 
body,  agreeably  to  the  law  then  just  enacted.  Timothy  Bab- 
cock,  Samuel  Stevens,  and  Caleb  Sheldon  were  the  first  trus 
tees.  January  21,  1796,  Eliab  Wilcox  W2S  chosen  in  place  of 
Timothy  Babcock.  The  Duchess  Baptist  Association  was  or 
ganized  with  this  church  in  July,  1835,  at  whose  request,  urged 
by  its  pastor,  Elder  Roberts,  the  convention  was  called.  Per 
kins,  Roberts,  Hopkins,  Hall,  and  others  have  been  connected 
at  different  times  with  this  church  as  pastors. 

In  1840,  a  protracted  meeting  was  held  with  this  congrega 
tion,  at  which  Elder  D.  T.  Hill  assisted,  preaching  three  times 
a  day.  Much  interest  was  manifested  in  the  community  at  this 
time  and  many  conversions  resulted.  Julia  A.  Lathrop,  a 
member  of  this  church,  embarked  for  Birmah  about  the  year 
1843,  to  engage  in  teaching. 

Previous  to  the  Revolution,  a  Dutch  Reformed  church  was 
commenced  on  the  present  cemetery  grounds,  which  was  not 
completed.  Pratt  was  the  builder.  In  this  house-  the  Baptists 
first  held  their  meetings.  Here  Elders  Waldo,  Detherick,  Foss, 
Perkins,  and  a  host  of  others  expounded  the  Divine  Word  to 
their  followers.  In  1844  the  building  was  remodeled  and  used 
as  a  Union  church.  It  was  afterwards  removed,  and  is  yet 
standing  in  the  village  of  Dover,  doing  duty  as  a  blacksmith's 


1 68  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

shop.  The  present  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1833,  at  a 
cost  of  $6,000.  It  was  dedicated  in  the  Autumn  of  that  year, 
Elder  Perkins  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

There  are  three  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  in  the  town : 
One  at  South  Dover,  built  about  twenty-one  years  ago  •  another 
at  Dover  Plains,  and  a  third  on  Chestnut  Ridge.  These 
societies  were  not  of  so  ancient  origin  as  those  of  the  Baptist 
denomination  in  this  town. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  mention  of  the  M.  E.  Churches 
of  this  county  is  so  meagre,  compared  with  the  importance  of 
that  denomination,  both  as  regards  number  and  influence  of 
its  membership.  This  must  not  be  attributed  to  any  lack  of 
effort  in  gathering  and  compiling  the  materials  ;  but  it  is  owing 
to  the  fact  that  the  society  as  a  rule,  have  neglected  to  make 
any  permanent  record  of  the  early  local  history  of  the  churches, 
as  has  been  done  by  other  denominations. 

A  Friends'  church,  known  as  the  Branch  Preparative  Meet 
ing,  was  organized  here  in  1774,  by  the  Monthly  Meeting  at 

Oblong — now  Quaker 
Hill.  The  meeting  house 
was  built  about  that 
time,  and  is  yet  standing. 
A  piece  of  land  was 
attached  to  it,  into  which 

Branch  1'reparative   Church.  the  C  a  r  1  y  W  O  r  S  h  i  p  C  I S 

turned  their  horses  for  pasturage,  during  services.  Most  of 
them  came  on  horseback.  The  venerable  Augustus  Straight, 
of  South  Kent,  Conn.,  is  the  only  male  member  living.  Much, 
if  not  all,  of  the  membership  of  this  church  is  composed  of 
persons  who  are  upwards  of  eighty  years  old.  The  ancient 
edifice  is  still  in  tolerable  repair.  It  is  surrounded  by  a  cluster 
of  majestic  trees  whose  moss-covered  trunks  are  in  unison 
with  the  old  house  they  surround  ;  and  is  provided  with  a  row 
of  sheds,  whose  green-turfed  floor  shows  the  spot  to  be  sadly 
neglected. 

At   stated  intervals  these   aged  pilgrims  meet  together  far 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  169 

prayer  and  exhortation.  Some  have  belonged  to  this  society- 
more  than  half  a  century.  In  childhood,  and  in  maturer  years; 
they  together  have  listened  to  the  preached  Word;  and,  as 
they  pass  down  the  steep  of  old  age,  hand  in  hand  they  go. 
mutually  consoling  and  congratulating  one  another  as  they 
tremble  on  the  brink  of  eternity. 

Another  Friends'  meeting  house  was  located  on  Pleasant 
Ridge,  of  whose  early  history  we  have  not  any  record  at  hand, 

VALLEY     VIEW    CEMETERY    ASSOCIATION. 

This  association  was  organized  May  27th,  1871,  at  Dover 
Plains,  by  the  following  persons  :  John  H.  Ketcham,  George 
T.  fielding,  James  K.  Mabbett,  George  M.  Allerton,  Egbert 
Butcher,  Thomas  Hammond,  Jr.,  Joseph  Belden,  and  Horace 
I).  Hufcut.  The  association  purchased  sixteen  and  one-half 
acres  of  land  of  James  Ketcham.  It  consisted  of  a  beautiful, 
undulating  meadow,  adjoining  the  old  burying  ground,  a  short 
distance  south  of  the  village.  "rThe  ancient  hills  and  moun 
tains  stand  sentinels  around  it,  hence  the  appropriateness  of 
its  name — Valley  View."  At  the  northern  border  a  stream  of 
pure  water  runs  gently  over  a  gravelly  bed,  seeking  its  burial  in 
the  Ten  Mile  Creek,  a  short  distance  away.  Its  contiguity  to 
the  old  burying  ground — where  lie  the  buried  dead  of  several 
generations  of  the  Dover  Valley — contributed  in  some  degree 
to  the  selection  of  the  ground,  and  in  September  following  the 
organization  of  the  association,  the  inhabitants  interested  in 
the  old  ground  caused  the  same  to  be  transferred  to  the 
Association  for  cemetery  purposes — the  old  and  new  grounds 
together  making  one  cemetery  of  twenty  acres  in  extent.  The 
grounds  were  laid  out  by  Mr.  J.  I.  Wanzer  ;  and  on  the  7th 
day  of  October,  1871,  the  cemetery  was  formally  dedicated, 
Hon.  Allard  Anthony  delivering  the  address.  The  old  grounds, 
mentioned  above,  was  a  parcel  of  land,  of  about  five  acres  in 
extent,  granted  May  16,  1818,  by  John  R.  Livingston,  to  the 
inhabitants  of  a  surrounding  tract  of  about  four  miles  square, 
for  educational  and  religious  purposes.  Part  of  this  was. 


I  70  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

connected  with  the  parsonage,  and  was  sold  some  twenty-five 
years  ago. 

The  mill  now  known  as  Preston's  Mill  was  kept  in  former 
times  by  Elihu  Russell,  and  had  a  wide  reputation,  being  one 
of  the  first  in  this  part  of  the  country.  The  present  structure 
was  built  nearly  a  century  since,*  a  former  one,  on  the  same 
site,  having  been  carried  away  in  a  freshet  some  time  previous. 
A  fulling  mill  was  early  established  here.  It  is  related  that 
a  man  named  Wilcox  once  went  with  a  grist  to  Russell's 
Mill,  and  was  told  that  he  must  wait  till  the  next  day  as  there 
were  other  customers  before  him.  He  concluded  he  would 
not  go  home  without  it  at  all  events.  Dinner  time  came,  and 
he  was  invited  in  to  dine  with  the  family. 

Now  Wilcox  was  a  man  of  large  frame,  and  withal  a  huge 
feeder  ;  and  his  bashfulness  was  not  so  great  as  to  prevent  his 
partaking  of  the  good  things  with  a  heartiness  that  filled  the 
heart  of  poor  Russell  with  dismay.  Slipping  out  unobserved 
he  hastened  to  the  mill,  poured  out  the  contents  of  Mr. 
Wilcox's  sack  into  the  hopper,  and  when  the  latter  finally 
emerged  from  the  dining-room,  Russell  met  him  with  the 
information  that  his  grist  was  ready.  Wilcox  took  his  depar 
ture,  happy  in  the  thought  that  he  had  secured  his  grist  so 
early,  and  had  made  a  good  substantial  dinner  out  of  his  friend 
the  miller  into  the  bargain  ;  while  the  latter  was  no  less  rejoiced 
that  he  had  got  rid  of  a  customer  that  was  like  to  have 
exhausted  his  stock  of  provisions. 

John  Preston  opened  a  tavern  about  the  year  1810.  The 
house  is  still  standing,  as  is  also  the  barn  opposite,  on  which 
are  painted  figures  of  cattle.  It  became  a  favorite  resort 
particularly  for  drovers ;  and  Preston's  Tavern  and  its  hospita 
ble  but  somewhat  eccentric  landlord,  were  in  days  gone  by 
well  known  throughout  the  State. 

Preston  once  collected  the  seeds  of  a  noxious  weed,  put  them 
carefully  in  little  paper  packages  labeled  with  a  high-sounding 


*  Tlic-  building  known  as  "  Titus's  Store"  was   put  up  by  him  about  the  same  time. 
Stephen  Sweet  was  the  builder  of  both.— See  page  145. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  iyi 

"botanical  name,  and  distributed  them  among  his  guests, 
representing  the  plant  as  bearing  flowers  of  rare  beauty.  Those 
who  accepted  the  seeds,  and  planted  them  as  directed,  had 
cause  to  remember  the  landlord  of  Preston's  Tavern  to  their 
dying  day. 

He  was  once  questioned  as  to  his  manner  of  fattening  cattle. 
"  My  plan,"  said  he,  "is  to  plow  a  furrow  or  two  around  that 
grove  of  trees,  and  plant  gourd  seeds ;  the  vines  run  up  among 
the  branches,  and  the  cows  climb  the  trees  and  fatten  on  the 
gourds." 

Jackson  Wing  opened  a  tavern  at  an  early  date  in  the  large 
brick  house  now  occupied  by  his  son,  Ebenezer  Wing.  This 
was  at  one  time  a  noted  resort  for  drovers  passing  through  this 
section  oi  country.  Here  the  town  meetings  were  held  before 
the  erection  of  Dover  into  a  separate  town. 

The  "  Old  Forge,"  by  which  name  the  locality  is  still  known, 
was  located  on  Ten  Mile  River,  near  the  State  line.  Old  John 
Griffin  used  to  work  in  it.  An  old  resident  says  the  hammer 
made  a  great  noise,  and  could  be  heard  a  long  distance  off. 
At  this  place  an  old  saw-mill  is  located,  connected  with  which 
is  a  traditional  story : 

During  the  Revolution,  a  man  having  in  his  possession  a 
quantity  of  silver  money,  buried  it  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  on 
•k  Weaver  Mountain,"  drove  a  spike  into  the  tree  to  mark  the 
spot,  and  ran  away  to  escape  conscription.  After  an  absence 
of  several  years  he  returned  for  his  treasure,  but  the  bark  had 
grown  over  and  concealed  the  spike,  and  he  was  unable  to  find 
it.  Years  afterward  the  timber  on  the  mountain  was  cut  off, 
and  the  logs  drawn  to  the  mill.  One  day  the  saw  came  in  con 
tact  with  an  obstruction  in  a  large  log,  and  was  shivered  to 
pieces.  On  examination  a  spike  was  found  imbedded  in  the 
wood.  This  called  to  mind  the  circumstances  of  the  buried 
money,  and  efforts  were  made  to  find  the  stump  from  which 
the  log  was  cut,  but  without  avail ;  and  the  treasure,  if  tradi 
tion  speaks  truly,  is  still  lying  there. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  town,  in  the  days  gone  by,  when 


172  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

men  believed  in  ghosts,  there  stood  what  was  known  as  the 
"  Haunted  House."  Many  were  the  stories  connected  with 
this  building  which  were  rehearsed  around  the  Winter  fireside  ; 
people  were  afraid  to  live  in  it,  and  it  remained  untenanted  for 
a  number  of  years  ;  and  the  bravest  among  them  would  cast 
uneasy  glances  toward  it  when  they  were  obliged  to  pass  in  its 
vicinity  after  nightfall.  It  was  said  the  furniture  was  offered  to 
any  one  who  would  go  and  remove  it,  but  it  was  found  impos 
sible  to  do  so,  as  unseen  hands  would  snatch  away  the  articles 
before  they  could  be  carried  out.  Strange  noises  were  fre 
quently  heard  within  it,  usually  on  very  dark  and  stormy  nights  ; 
and  strange,  unnatural  lights  could  at  times  be  seen  Hitting 
about  the  different  apartments.  But  ghosts  are  now  out  of 
fashion,  and  if  they  ever  lived,  they  have  gone  to  more  congen 
ial  climes  ;  and  though  the  house  yet  stands,  nothing  is  now 
heard  about  its  being  haunted. 

David  Allis  was  an  old  resident,  and  lived  in  the  house  yet 
standing  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  near  the  Jewett  school- 
house.  He  used  to  preach  in  the  Branch  Meeting  House. 
He  was  the  man  that  bored  holes  in  the  south  side  of  his 
apple-trees,  into  which  he  poured  molasses,  to  make,  as  he  said, 
the  apples  on  that  side  of  the  tree  sweet. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution  a  'k  barbecue"  was  held  at 
Dover  Plains.  A  man  named  Grant  gave  the  ox,  which  was 
spitted  and  roasted  whole.  Speeches  were  delivered,  and  a 
great  concourse  of  people  came  together.  Although  the  cook 
ing  was  none  of  the  best  and  the  flesh  was  either  raw  or  burned 
to  a  crisp,  the  patriotism  of  the  people  led  them  to  pronounce 
it  excellent. 

Preston  Mountain  has  long  been  the  dwelling  place  of  her 
mits.  Robert  Brownell  long  ago  lived  in  the  rocks  there  : 
Curtis  was  another,  who  kept  a  cobbler's  shop  in  a  cave,  to 
which  the  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood  repaired  when  their 
shoes  needed  mending  ;  and  it  is  said  that  there  is  still  another 
now  living  a  solitary  life  on  the  north  part  of  the  mountain. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  173 

There  is  an  old  burying  ground  near  the  site  of  Martin  Pres 
ton's  house,  where  lie  the  bones  of  the  first  inhabitants. 

Ebenezer  Preston,  better  known  as  "  Captain"  Preston, 
was  a  brother  of  Martin  Preston's,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  the  town.  He  located  in  the  valley  of  the  Ten  Mile 
stream,  and  put  up  three  grist-mills.  Two  mills  are  now 
standing  on  the  sites  of  these  old  ones ;  a  third  was  located  at 
''  The  Forge."  Thomas  Wing  was  another  early  emigrant. 
He  came  from  Rhode  Island,  and  settled  near  where  Thomas 
Wheeler.  Esq..  now  lives. 

William  Chapman  kept  a  hotel  on  the  Old  Forge  road, 
about  half  a  mile  east  of  Preston's  Mill,  before  the  hotel  at  the 
latter  place  was  opened. 

Mistake  Turnpike  lies  partly  in  this  town.  It  leads  over 
the  mountain,  west  of  Wing's  Station.  The  name  is  said  to 
have  been  given  it  from  this  circumstance  : — When  the  road 
was  being  built,  a  large  boulder  was  rolled  down  the  mountain 
side  with  the  view  that  it  should  form  a  part  of  the  wall  of  an 
embankment.  Its  momentum  was  so  great  as  to  carry  it  be 
yond  the  place  intended,  out  of  reach,  where  it  remains  to 
this  day. 

Allis  Pond  and  Sharparoon  Pond  are  the  principal  bodies  of 
water.  Some  peat  beds  have  been  opened  near  the  line  of  the 
Harlem  Railroad.  Both  the  white  and  clouded  varieties  of 
marble  are  found ;  Preston's  and  Ketcham's  quarries  are  the 
principal  openings  that  have  been  made.  Two  blast  furnaces 
were  built  in  this  town,  both  of  which  are  in  ruins. 


FISHKILL. 


POPULATION,  15,785. SQUARE  ACRES.  59.848. 


•ISHKILL  was  formed  as  a  town  March  7th,  1788.  A 
part  of  Philipstown  was  annexed  March  i4th,  1806.  A 
'^\$  part  of  ;i  Freedom"  (now  Lagrange)  was  taken  off  in 
^rf  1821.  November  29th,  1849,  East  Fishkill  was  taken 
from  it  and  erected  into  a  separate  township;  and  May  2oth, 
1875,  the  town  of  "Wappinger"  was  constituted  from  its 
remaining  northern  portion.  As  few  or  no  events  of  historic 
interest  have  transpired  since  its  division  into  separate  town 
ships,  the  facts  recorded  in  this  chapter  will  be  considered  as 
relating  to  the  whole  territory  comprised  in  the  original  town  of 
Fishkill.  The  early  inhabitants  called  it  Vis-Kill,  that  is, 
Fish-Creek,  kill  being  the  name  for  creek  :  hence  its  present 
name. 

The  surface  is  mountainous  in  the  south,  and  hilly  in  the 
north.  The  Fishkill  Mountains,  extending  along  the  southern 
border,  are  high,  rocky,  and  precipitous.  Old  Beacon  and 
Grand  Sachem,  the  highest  summits,  are  respectively  1471  and 
1685  feet  above  tide.  These  are  commemorable  from  the 
fact  that  bale-fires  were  kindled  on  their  tops  in  Revolutionary 
days,  to  alarm  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country  in 
case  of  sudden  invasion. 

174 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  175. 

A  break  in  these  mountains  is  known  as  the  Wiccopee* 
Pass.  This  was  carefully  guarded  during  the  Revolution,  to 
prevent  the  British  from  turning  the  American  works  at  West 
Point.  A  considerable  American  force  was  stationed  at  its 
upper  extremity  during  the  campaign  of  1777. 

The  Fishkill  skirts  the  foot  of  the  mountains,  separating 
them  from  the  hilly  region  in  the  northwest.  Wappingers 
Creek  forms  the  west  boundary.  A  high  rolling  ridge  lies 
between  these  two  streams  ;  the  highest  point  is  Mt.  Hope| 
1000  feet  above  tide.  A  series  of  bluffs,  150  to  250  feet  high, 
extends  along  the  river,  broken  by  the  valleys  of  the  streams. 
The  soil  is  a  clay  and  gravelly  loam. 

Prior  to  the  advent  of  the  English  this  vicinity  was  the 
favorite  home  of  the  Red  Man.  Here  the  priests  performed 
their  incantations,  and  ministered  at  their  altars.  Until 
recently,  there  were  evidences  of  their  occupation  of  this 
territory  in  the  traces  of  their  burial  grounds,  and  in  the  many 
apple  and  pear  trees,  planted  by  Indian  hands,  that  were 
standing.  But  the  memory  of  the  ancient  inhabitants  is 
rendered  more  permanent  by  the  beautiful  Indian  names  yet 
applied  to  streams  and  localities — Matteawan,  Wiccopee, 
Shenandoah.  etc.  We  subjoin  a  deposition  made  by  David 
Ninham,  a  Wappinger  Indian,  touching  the  boundaries  of 
tribes  etc. : 

DAVID  NINHAM,  aged  thirty-six  years,  being  duly  sworn, 
maketh  oath  that  he  is  a  River  Indian,  of  tribe  of  the  Wappin 
gers,  which  tribe  were  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  the  east 
shore  of  Hudson  River,  from  the  city  of  New  York  to  about 
the  middle  of  Baekmins  Patent ;  that  another  of  River 
Indians,  called  Mohegans,  were  the  remaining  inhabitants  of 
the  east  shore  of  Hudson  River ;  that  these  two  tribes  consti 
tuted  one  nation.  That  the  deponent  well  understands  the 
language  of  the  Mohegans.  It  is  very  little  different  from  the 
language  of  the  Wappinger  tribe.  That  the  Indian  word 
Pattenock  signifies,  in  the  language  of  the  Mohegans,  a  "  fall 
of  water,"  and  has  no  other  signification.  And  this  deponent 

*  So  named  from  the  Wiccopees,  an  Indian  clan  once  living  near  Shenandoah. 
t  Mt.  Hope  is  about  one-half  mile  south  of  Myers'  Corners.    A  beautiful  and  extend- 
'•<!  view  b  obtained  from  its  .summit. 


176  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

says    that  he  is   a  Christian,  and  has  resided  some  years  with 
the  Mohegans  at  Stockbridge. 

his' 

DAVID    X     NINHAM. 

mark 

Sworn  the  second  day  of  August,  1762,  before  me. 

WILLIAM  SMITH. 

As  late  as  1700,  a  powerful  tribe,  numbering  more  than  a 
thousand  warriors,  lived  in  the  vicinity  of  Fishkill  Hook.  They 
erected  a  palisade  on  Fort  Hill,  for  retreat  when  hard  pressed 
by  the  foe ;  their  village  was  located  in  the  valley  north  of 
this  hill.  It  is  but  a  few  years  since  that  this  tribe  became 
extinct. 

The  first  land  purchased  in  DUCHESS  County  was  in  the 
town  of  Fishkill.  February  8th,  1682,  a  license  was  given  by 
Thomas  Dongan,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Province  of 
New  York,  to  Francis  Rombout  and  Gillian  Ver  Blanck,  to 
purchase  a  tract  of  land  from  the  Indians.  Under  this  license 
they  bought  on  the  8th  day  of  August,  1683,  of  the  Wappinger 
Indians,  all  their  right  to  a  large  tract  afterwards  known  as  the 
Rombout  Patent.  Gulian  Ver  Planck  died  before  the  English 
patent  was  issued  by  Dongan.  Stephanus  Van  Cortland  was 
then  joined  in  it  with  Rombout,  and  Jacobus  Kipp  substituted 
as  the  representative  of  the  children  of  Gulian  Ver  Planck. 
On  the  1 7th  day  of  October,  1685,  letters  patent  were  granted 
by  King  James  the  Second.  There  were  85,000  acres  included 
in  the  patent.  Besides  paying  the  natives,  they  were  to  pay 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  Thomas  Dongan,  six  bushels  of  good 
and  merchantable  winter  wheat  every  year. 

This  Indian  deed*  is  couched  in  the  formal  language 
common  to  all  old  instruments  of  that  class.  The  names  of 
the  Indian  granters  are  : — Sackoraghkigh,  Megriskar,  Quegh- 
sjehapieuw,  Niessjatvejhos,  Queghout,  Asotewes,  Wappegereck, 
Nathindaew,  Wappape,  Ketaghkanns,  Mekaghoghkan,  Mier- 
ham,  Peapightapaeuw,  Queghhitaeuw,  Memesawogh,  Katariogh, 
Kightapinkog,  Rearawogh,  Meggiech,  Sejay,  Wienangeck, 

*  llecorded  in  Alb.,  Book  of  Patents,  vol.  5,  p.  72. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  177 

Maenemaeuw,  and  Guighstierm.     The  following  is  a  schedule 
of  articles  paid  in  the  purchase  of  the  land: 

One  hunci  Royalls,  One  hund  Pound  Powder,  Two  huna 
fathom  of  White  Wampum,  one  hunfl  Barrs  of  Lead,  One 
hundred  fathom  of  black  Wampum,  thirty  tobacco  boxes,  ten 
holl  adges,  thirty  Gunns,  twenty  Blankets,  forty  fathom  of 
Dumls,  twenty  fathom  of  stroudwater  Cloth,  thirty  Kittles, 
forty  Hatchets,  forty  horns,  forty  shirts,  forty  p  stockins,  twelve 
coates  of  R.  B.  &  b.  C.,  ten  Drawing  Knives,  forty  earthen 
Juggs,  forty  Bottles,  forty  Knives,  fouer  ankers  rum,  ten  halfe 
fatts  Beere,  two  him'1  tobacco  Pipes.  &rc.,  Eighty  Pound 
Tobaco. 

As  already  observed,  the  patentees  came  in  full  possession 
of  their  purchase  in  the  autumn  of  1685.  No  positive  dates 
of  occupancy  can  be  determined  from  authentic  records  previous 
to  1708,  when  a  partition  by  writ  of  the  Supreme  Court  was 
made  of  all  lands  between  the  Fishkill  and  Wappingers  Creek  ; 
the  remainder,  north  and  south  of  these  streams  remaining  in 
common  to  the  several  owners.  Settlement  was  begun  on  the 
Verplanck  portion  of  this  division  subsequent  to  the  Rombout 
and  Van  Courtland  sections.  One-third  of  the  Verplanck 
allotment  was  afterward  apportioned  to  Andrew  Teller,  son 
and  only  child  of  Henrietta  Verplanck. 

January  loth,  1709,  Roger  Brett — son-in-law  of  Francis 
Rombout,  one  of  the  original  patentees — and  Catherine  his 
wife,  gave  their  joint  bond  to  Capt.  Gylob  Shelly,  of  New  York, 
for  the  sum  of  ^399,  6s.  This  bond  soon  falling  due,  they  in 
June,  1713,  gave  a  mortgage  deed  to  the  executors  of  Gylob 
Shelly,  covering  their  part  of  the  division  between  the  two 
streams  (their  allotment  covering*  mainly  the  Fishkill  settle 
ment),  ';  excepting  and  reserving  always  out  of  said  premises, 
one  tenement,  grist-mill  and  water  course  thereunto  belonging, 
together  with  300  acres  of  land  adjoining  said  mill,  now  in 
possession  of  said  Roger  Brett ;  also  certain  parcels  of  land 
now  in  possession  of  John  Terboss,  John  Buys.  Casper  Prime, 
Peter  DeBoys,  and  YowrebSpringstead  ;  also  5,000  acres  lying 
and  being  in  any  part  of  the  reserved  premises." 

1 


178  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Without  doubt  the  persons  named  in  this  mortgage  were 
the  only  persons  occupying  lands  on  the  patent ;  and  the 
borrowed  money  was  probably  used  by  Roger  Brett  and  wife 
in  erecting  a  house  and  grist-mill  the  following  year.  A  grist 
mill  has  now  no  especial  interest ;  its  charms  would  be  greater 
were  we  depending  on  one  single  mill  for  our  daily  bread. 
This  was  the  first  mill  built  in  DUCHESS  County ;  and  for  a  long 
time  Orange  County  paid  tribute  to  Madam  Brett's*  mill,  for 
by  this  name  it  was  known  far  and  wide.  Roads  terminated 
there. — "From  Wiccopee  to  Madam  Brett's  Mill ;"  "From 
Hackensack  to  Madam  Brett's  Mill."  An  old  gentleman  in 
Orange  County  stated  the  following  : — His  grandfather  used  to 
tell  him  that  when  he  was  a  boy  he  was  accustomed  to  go  to 
Madam  Brett's  Mill,  that  being  the  only  mill  to  which  they  then 
had  access.  The  neighbors  and  settlers  for  miles  would  come 
with  a  bag  of  grain  fastened  securely  upon  the  back  of  a  horse. 
When  they  had  all  arrived,  the  horses  were  tied  to  each  other's 
tails,  and  mounting  the  foremost  one  he  wended  his  way  to  the 
river.  With  an  Indian  canoe  he  would  carry  over  the  grain. 
returning  again  in  the  same  manner. 

Early  in  1742.  a  company  was  formed  of  eighteen  persons 
for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  freighting  business.  This 
was  probably  the  first  organized  freighting  concern  in  the 
county. 

The  first  settlement  of  the  original  town  of  Fishkill  dates 
back  as  far  as  the  year  1682.  Nicholas  Emigh  was  the  first 
settler.  He  embarked  for  America  with  Robert  Livingston 
about  1672.  On  shipboard  he  became  acquainted  with  a 
pretty  Dutch  girl  from  Holstein,  and  they  were  married  before 
they  touched  American  shores.  Unwilling  to  be  a  mere 
retainer  of  Livingston,  he  and  his  young  wife  went  to  Fort 


*  Roger,  the  husband  of  Madame  Brett,  was  killed  when  comparatively  young.  He 
was  coming  from  New  York  in  1721,  on  board  of  a  sloop.  When  entering  the  mouth  of  the 
Fishkill  the  boom  of  the  vessel  struck  him.  causing  his  death.  It  is  said  that  his  remains 
were  interred  in  the  old  burying  ground  near  Byrnesville.  Madam  Brett  survived  him 
more  than  half  a  century,  but  never  again  married.  She  died  in  1764.  After  her  deatli 
there  were  many  lease  farms  in  the  eastern  part  of  her  possessions,  in  Fishkill  Hook,  and 
extending  east  towards  Shenandoah.  The  heirs  extinguished  those  leases  and  divided  the 
property,  as  directed  by  her  will,  and  then  sold  the  farms  to  actual  settlers. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS'  COUNTY.  179 

Orange  (now  Albany),  intending  to  settle  upon  an  island  in  the 
Hudson,  near  that  place,  within  the  manor  of  Van  Rensselaer. 
But  the  free  spirit  of  Emigh  could  not  succumb  to  feudal 
authority,  and  in  1682  he  started  for  the  unbroken  wilderness  of 
DUCHESS  County.  He  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fishkill, 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  extending  from  that  creek  to  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  eastward  to  the  Connecticut  line.*  The  Rombout 
Patent,  however,  granted  some  three  years  later,  to  Francis 
Rombout  and  others,  by  King  James  the  Second,  and  the 
Beekman  Patent,  granted  still  later  to  Colonel  Henry  Beek- 
man.  covered  the  whole  territory  purchased  by  Emigh,  who, 
having  only  an  Indian  deed,  was  dispossessed  by  the  later 
purchasers  holding  their  authority  from  the  Crown.  He  after 
wards  purchased  a  large  tract  in  the  Clove,  from  the  charter 
proprietors,  some  of  which  is  in  possession  of  his  descendants 
at  the  present  time. 

While  at  Fishkill  a  daughter  was  born  to  them,  the  first 
white  child  born  within  the  limits  of  DUCHESS  County.  About 
the  year  1700,  a  young  man  from  Holstein,  named  Peter 
Lasinck  (Lossing),  came  to  DUCHESS  County.  The  little 
Fishkill  maiden  had  grown  up  to  rosy  womanhood,  and  young 
Lasinck  and  Katrina  Emigh  wedded  and  settled  in  the  present 
domain  of  East  Fishkill.  They  had  four  sons  and  four 
daughters ;  and  it  is  said  that  when  the  oldest  of  the  eight 
died,  the  other  seven  were  still  living,  the  youngest  being  75 
years  old.  William,  the  first-born,  was  the  King's  collector  of 
taxes  in  1726.  The  historian,  Lossing,  is  a  descendant  of  this 
family. 

Until  1712,  the  nearest  blacksmith  to  the  Fishkill  settlers 
was  at  Esopus,  then  called  Wiltwyck.  One  of  Peter  Lasinck's 
boys  was  sent  there  with  a  plowshare  lashed  to  the  saddle, 
which  he  was  to  have  sharpened.  Having  traveled  an  Indian 
trail  homeward  for  a  dozen  miles,  the  fastenings  gave  way,  and 
the  plowshare  fell  to  the  ground.  In  the  fall  the  point  was 
broken,  and  the  poor  lad  was  obliged  to  turn  back  and  have 

*  ^Ir.  Benson  J.  Lossing- lias  this  Indian  deed  in  his  possession. 


l8o  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

his  work   done  the  second    time.     Altogether  he    traveled    a 
hundred  miles  to  have  a  plowshare  prepared  for  use. 

The  next  permanent  settler  was  Peche  Dewall,  who 
located  at  Fishkill  Landing.  He  came  there  in  the  spring  of 
1688.  His  wife  assisted  him  in  clearing  up  his  land.  The 
following  winter  he  went  to  New  York  with  a  hand  sled ;  made 
some  purchases,  and  drew  the  articles  home,  though  the  road 
most  of  the  way  was  but  an  Indian  trail.  In  the  spring  he 
bought  a  horse  for  ^3,  which  was  considered  a  fair  price  for  a 
horse  in  those  days. 

Emigh  and  Dewall  were  almost  the  only  settlers  here  for 
many  years.  Situated  in  the  midst  of  a  wilderness,  remote 
from  any  settlement ;  surrounded  by  savage  Indians  and  still 
more  savage  beasts  ;  provisions  scarce  and  hard  to  be  obtained 
and  the  long  winters  cold  and  severe — their  situation  was  by 
no  means  enviable.  A  sloop  would  come  up  the  river 
occasionally,  when  the  captain  and  some  of  the  crew  would 
come  ashore,  and  then  all  would  be  solitary  again ;  and 
months  would  transpire  before  they  would  again  learn  what 
events  were  taking  place  in  the  outside  world. 

From  1700  to  1715,  settlement  progressed  slowly,  the 
pioneers  locating  mostly  along  the  river.  The  Indians  were 
numerous,  their  village  lying  near  the  present  site  of  Fishkill 
Hook.  There  they  had  set  out  apple  orchards ;  a  few  of  the 
apple  trees  may  yet  be  seen  on  the  farm  of  William  Waldo. 
They  had  a  little  clearing  on  the  farm  of  Theodore  VanWyck, 
where  they  raised  their  Indian  corn. 

Theodoris  VanWyck  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  at  Fish- 
kill  Hook.  One  of  his  boys,  a  lad  of  twelve  summers,  used 
to  go  to  the  Indian  village  occasionally,  and  the  squaws  would 
give  him  something  to  eat.  Happening  there  one  day  when 
nearly  the  whole  village  was  absent,  he  ventured  to  look  into  a 
dinner  vessel  swung  over  one  of  their  fires,  and  there  saw  a 
piece  of  old  horse  with  the  hair  on  it,  seasoned  with  some 
beans.  From  that  time  he  declined  to  eat  with  the  Indians. 
"  Where  Johnsville  is  located  once  stood  a  dense  forest. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  l8l 

The  small  streams  were  much  obstructed  by  fallen  trees,  so 
that  the  water  collected  in  stagnant  pools,  and  rendered  the 
locality  unhealthy.  These  pools  were  the  habitations  of  veno 
mous  serpents  and  various  animals,  such  as  the  beaver,  otter  and 
muskrat.  The  early  settlers  were  careful  about  venturing  out 
after  dark,  for  fear  of  the  bite  of  some  venomous  snake.  They 
were  obliged  to  drive  their  stock  into  enclosures  every  night  as 
a  protection  against  beasts  of  prey,  and  often  the  wolves  and 
panthers  would  break  through  and  carry  away  some  of  the 
sheep  and  lambs  to  their  dens  in  the  mountains." 

The  first  settlers  of  the  village  of  Johnsville,  the  ancient 
name  of  which  was  Wiccopee,  was  Johannes  Swartwout.  He 
leased  a  farm  of  Madam  Brett  for  three  fat  fowls  a  year.  He 
made  a  clearing,  erected  a  log-house  near  an  excellent  spring, 
and  in  1750  set  out  an  apple  orchard.  Many  of  the  trees  still 
stand.  One  taken  down  some  fourteen  years  ago  was  twelve 
feet  around  at  its  base,  and  fifty  feet  high.  This  farm  after 
ward  came  in  possession  of  Rombout  Brett,  a  grandson  of 
Madam  Brett,  who  located  on  it  in  the  year  1770.  He  sold 
six  acres  to  a  blacksmith  named  Cushman,  the  first  mechanic 
in  Johnsville.  The  barracks  of  the  American  army  near  Fish- 
kill  were  given  to  the  inhabitants  after  they  were  vacated. 
Cushman,  with  the  help  of  his  neighbors,  went  to  the  barracks 
and  hauled  up  the  material  for  his  house  and  blacksmith  shop. 

The  next  settler  in  Johnsville  was  Joseph  Wood.  Like 
most  of  the  dwellings  of  the  first  settlers,  the  house  was  built 
one  story  high,  with  a  long  stoop  in  front.  The  roof  of  the 
house  extended  over  so  as  to  cover  the  stoop.  The  house 
had  very  small  windows  ;  there  was  no  wall  overhead,  the  large 
beams  being  uncovered  ;  and  the  fire-places  large  enough  to 
take  in  the  wood  cord  lengths.  The  house  was  covered  with 
cypress  and  white  wood,  unpainted,  and  the  floors  were  laid 
with  white  oak.  Mr.  Wood,  being  located  near  the  mountain, 
was  very  much  annoyed  by  beasts  of  prey.  The  cattle  yard 
was  so  situated  as  to  be  commanded  by  his  garret  window. 
Often  the  noise  of  bears  and  other  wild  beasts  awoke  him  in 


1 82  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  night,  when  he  would  repair  to  the  garret  window,  and  fire 
upon  them.  He  would  frequently  find  the  carcass  of  a  wolf 
or  panther  on  his  going  out  of  a  morning,  brought  down  by  his 
rifle  during  the  night. 

The  first  settler  near  Johnsville  was  Rodolphus  Svvartwout, 
from  Long  Island.  His  house  was  built  of  stone,  one  story 
high,  and  existed  as  late  as  1809.  One  day  his  son  and  a 
negro  slave  were  at  work  near  the  house,  when  they  saw  a  col 
lection  of  Indians  near  the  present  highway.  They  hastened 
to  the  spot,  and  to  their  surprise  they  saw  a  dead  Indian,  and 
the  others  were  rejoicing  over  him.  Svvartwout  asked  the 
Indians  who  killed  him,  when  they  all  cried  out  in  broken  Eng 
lish,  "  I,  I,  I."  It  appeared  that  the  dead  Indian  belonged  to 
a  tribe  below  the  mountains,  with  which  they  were  at  war  ; 
they  had  overtaken  him  there  and  stoned  him  to  death,  and 
•each  claimed  that  he  had  thrown  the  stone  that  killed  him. 
His  scalp  was  taken  off  and  given  to  Ninharn.  for  which  the 
latter  rewarded  them. 

Two  Englishmen  named  Ogden  called  on  Svvartwout  one 
day  to  make  inquiries  as  to  where  they  would  better  locate. 
Svvartwout  showed  them  through  the  woods  to  where  is  now 
the  residence  of  James  VanWyck.  The  Ogdens  thought  it 
rather  low  and  wet,  and  the  labor  of  clearing  and  draining 
the  land  too  great  an  undertaking  ;  they  therefore  went  through 
the  woods  in  an  easterly  direction  until  they  reached  the  top 
•of  a  hill  near  what  is  now  Farmer's  Mills.  Here  they  located 
and  a  portion  of  the  land  yet  remains  in  possession  of  their 
descendants. 

East  of  Swartvvout's  an  Englishman  settled,  by  the  name  of 
John  Wood.  He  built  a  house  where  C.  Delevan  now  lives, 
and  kept  tavern  there  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1791. 
The  Ways,  Brinckerhoffs,  Depuysters,  Algarks,  Woods,  and 
others,  were  from  Long  Island,  and  settled  in  and  about  Fish- 
kill  Hook.  At  this  place  is  a  farm  of  three  hundred  acres, 
adjoining  Putnam  county,  which  was  sold  in  1796  by  the  heirs 
of  Madam  Brett  to  William  Beslev.  The  Indians  who  sold 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  183 

the  tract  remained  here  long  after  the  sale.  They  claimed  this 
farm  as  a  reservation,  until  they  finally  removed  West.  This 
was  the  last  tract  of  land  given  up  by  them.  Their  villages 
and  apple  orchards  were  mostly  on  this  farm.  Some  of  them 
lingered  in  Fishkill  long  after  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
then  all  left.  A  few  of  the  tribe  came  back  at  different  times, 
and  pretended  to  claim  the  farm,  averring  that  they  had  never 
•signed  away  their  right  and  title.  Sometimes  they  would  re 
main  a  month  or  more,  begging  provisions  and  shooting  game, 
and  then  return  to  their  homes. 

The  first  settler  in  Shenandoah  was  Peter  Rickey ;  he 
built  the  first  house,  and  kept  the  first  tavern  and  store  in 
Shenandoah.  In  early  times  a  single  elephant  would  cause  as 
much  excitement  as  a  great  menagerie  at  the  present  day.  A 
show  once  stopped  at  Rickey's.  The  showman  advertised  a 
recently  imported  animal  from  Africa,  heretofore  unknown  to 
natural  history,  called  a  "  Dodo."  This  drew  out  a  large 
crowd,  but  the  dodo  proved  to  be  an  imposture.  The  people 
thereupon  tore  down  the  tents,  carried  the  dodo  and  a  Shet 
land  pony  into  the  tavern,  and  told  the  showman  he  must  re 
fund  the  money  or  they  would  not  deliver  up  his  property. 
Finally  a  compromise  was  effected,  by  which  the  showman  was 
allowed  to  proceed  on  his  way  on  condition  of  his  treating  the 
crowd. 

The  first  settler  at  Gayhead  was  Aaron  VanVlack,  who 
came  from  Holland  and  purchased  600  acres  of  land  of  Madam 
Brett,  when  this  County  was  a  wilderness.  He  built  a  log-house 
just  south  of  the  residence  of  his  great-grandson,  Abram  Van 
Vlack.  A  son  of  Aaron,  named  Tunis,  settled  at  the  village 
of  Gayhead,  and  built  the  mill.  The  building  used  as  a  tavern 
and  store  is  an  ancient  structure ;  by  whom  built,  and  when, 
is  uncertain. 

New  Hackensack*  was  settled  by  emigrants  from  Hacken- 
•sack,  New  Jersey,  after  which  it  was  named.  The  VanBim- 


Indian  name,  Ac-kkinkashacky. 


184  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

schotens,  Snadikers  and  Vanderbilts  were  among  the  first 
settlers. 

The  Montforts  were  the  first  settlers  on  Fishkill  Plains. 
They  came  from  the  Flatlands,  Long  Island,  about  the  year 
1740.  There  were  two  or  three  by  the  name  of  Peter.  One 
settled  on  lands  bordering  on  Sprout  Creek  ;  he  went  by  the 
name  of  Sprout  Peter. 

The  first  settler  in  Glenham  was  Simmerton.  He  kept 
tavern,  in  which  the  first  town  meeting  was  held  in  1724,  when 
the  following  business  was  transacted  : 

"  At  a  meeting  of  Sundry  Freeholders  and  Tenements  of 
DUCHESS  County,  assembled  this,  the  first  Tuesday  in  April,  in 
the  South  Ward,  the  following  persons  were  chosen  by  majori 
ty  of  votes  to  serve  for  the  Ward,  viz :  Jacobus  Swartwout, 
Supervisor;  James  Hussey,  Francis  De  Langdon,  Assessors. 
It  is  agreed  in  the  South  Ward  on  the  day  of  Election  by 
majority  of  votes  that  all  the  fences  in  that  ward  are  to  be  in 
height  upward  to  the  uppermost  part  of  the  rail,  or  log,  or 
rider,  four  feet  four  inches,  English  measure.  *  *  Every 
inhabitor  within  the  ward  aforesaid  shall  be  obliged  to  keep 
good  fences  around  their  corn  burrows  and  stacks,  which  fence 
is  to  be  so  close  that  hogs  nor  shoats  cannot  get  through  the 
same  where  they  run  at  large,  which  if  neglected  shall  not 
recover  damage." 

Francis  De  Langdon  settled  on  the  road  east  of  Fishkill 
village,  on  what  is  now  called  the  Sherwood  place.  Near  the 
house  stands  a  large  pine  tree,  on  which  a  cow-boy  was  hung 
in  the  Revolution.  He  was  captured  near  Johnsville,  and 
immediately  taken  to  this  tree  and  hung.  The  rope  was 
fastened  to  a  large  limb  that  projects  out  over  the  highway. 

The  Brinckerhoffs  settled  at  Brinckerhoffville.  They,  in 
1721,  purchased  of  Madame  Brett,  a  tract  of  about  1,700 
acres.  Abram  kept  a  store  here  during  the  Revolution,  He 
also  built  the  mills  now  known  as  Dudley's  Mills  They  were 
destroyed  by  fire  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  the 
soldiers  of  the  American  army,  encamped  near  by,  were  set 
to  work  at  re-building  them  ;  in  a»short  time  the  present  mills. 
were  ready  for  business. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  185 

About  this  time,  tea  being  very  scarce,  and  having  a  con 
siderable  quantity  on  hand,  Abram  Brinckerhoff  charged  an 
exorbitant  price.  The  women  of  the  neighborhood  were 
very  much  exasperated,  as  the  price  was  beyond  their  means. 
Mustering  a  large  company  under  the  command  of  one 
Catherine  Schutt,  they  marched  in  military  order  in  front  of 
his  store.  The  sequel  is  told  in  the  following  extract  from  a 
newspaper  published  at  that  time  : 

AUGUST  28th,  1776. — A  few  days  since  about  100  women, 
inhabitants  of  DUCHESS  county,  went  to  the  house  of  Colonel 
Brinckerhoff,  at  Fishkill,  and  insisted  upon  having  tea  at  the 
lawful  price  of  six  shillings  per  pound,  and  obliged  that  gentle 
man  to  accommodate  them  with  one  chest  from  his  store  for 
that  purpose.  Shortly  after  he  sold  his  cargo  to  some  Yorkers, 
who,  for  fear  of  another  female  attack,  forwarded  the  nefarious 
stuff  to  the  North  river  precipitately,  where  it  is  now  afloat, 
but  the  women  have  placed  their  guard  on  each  side. 

The  first  settlers  in  Fishkill  Village  were  Henry  Terboss, 
and  Rosekrance.  The  first  tailor  in  town  was  named  Clump. 
He  came  direct  from  Holland,  and  settled  in  Glenham. 

Fishkill  Village,  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  was  the 
largest  village  in  the  county.  It  could  boast  of  an  academy, 
two  churches,  one  school-house,  a  hotel,  and  a  printing  press. 
It  was  the  theatre  of  many  thrilling  events  of  the  war,  although 
no  battle  was  ever  fought  in  the  vicinity.  In  1789,  there  were 
but  seven  post-offices  in  the  State,  and  Fishkill  was  one  of  the 
number.  After  the  Revolution  it  progressed  very  slowly  in 
population.  It  is  situated  upon  a  beautiful  plain,  in  the 
midst  of  a  fertile  country,  and  surrounded  by  magnificent 
scenery.  Lossing  thus  describes  a  visit  here  in  1848  :  "  The 
air  was  a  little  frosty,  but  as  soon  as  the  sun  appeared  above 
the  hills,  the  warm  breath  and  soft  light  of  the  Indian  Summer 
spread  their  genial  influence  over  the  face  of  Nature,  and 
awakened  corresponding  delight  in  the  heart  and  mind  of  the 
traveler.  The  country  through  which  the  highway  passes  is 
exceedingly  picturesque.  It  skirts  the  deep,  rich  valleys  of 


1 86  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Matteawan  and  Glenham,  where  flows  a  clear  stream*  from  a 
distant  mountain  lake  and  bubbling  spring,  turning  in  its 
•course  many  mill-wheels  and  thousands  of  spindles,  set  up 
along  its  banks.  On  the  south,  the  lofty  range  of  the  eastern 
Highlands,  rocky  and  abrupt  near  their  summits,  come  down 
with  gentle  declivities  and  mingle  their  rugged  forms  with  the 
green  undulations  of  the  valley.  Up  their  slopes  cultivated 
fields  have  crept  like  ivy  upon  some  grey  old  tower;  and  there 
tinted  with  all  the  glories  of  autumn,  they  seemed  to  hang  in 
the  soft  morning  sunlight  like  rich  gobelins  in  the  chamber  of 
royalty."  Irving  in  his  narrative  of  the  renowned  Stuyvesant 
up  the  Hudson,  thus  speaks  of  the  Highlands : 

"  Thus  happily  did  they  pursue  their  course,  until  they 
entered  upon  those  awful  defiles  denominated  the  Highlands, 
where  it  would  seem  that  the  gigantic  Titans  had  erst  waged 
their  impious  war  with  heaven,  piling  up  cliffs  on  cliffs,  and 
hurling  vast  masses  of  rock  in  wild  confusion.  But  in  sooth, 
very  different  is  the  history  of  these  cloud-capt  mountains. — 
These  in  ancient  days,  before  the  Hudson  poured  his  waters 
from  the  lakes,  formed  one  vast  prison,  within  whose  rocky- 
bosom  the  omnipotent  Manetho  confined  the  rebellious  spirits 
who  repined  at  his  control.  Here  bound  in  adamantine  chains 
or  jammed  in  rifted  pines,  or  crushed  by  ponderous  rocks,  they 
groaned  for  many  an  age.  At  length  the  conquering  Hudson, 
in  his  irresistible  career  towards  the  ocean,  burst  open  their 
prison-house,  rolling  his  tide  triumphantly  through  its  stupen 
dous  ruins.  Still,  however,  do  many  of  them  lurk  about  their 
old  abodes  ;  and  these  it  is,  according  to  venerable  legends, 
that  cause  the  echoes  which  resound  throughout  these 
awful  solitudes,  which  are  nothing  but  their  angry  clamors, 
when  any  noise  disturbs  the  profoundness  of  their 
repose.  For  when  the  elements  are  agitated  by  tempest,  when 
the  winds  are  up  and  the  thunder  rolls,  then  horrible  is  the 
yelling  and  howling  of  these  troubled  spirits,  making  the 

*  The  chief  sources  of  this  beautiful  stream  are,  Whaley  Pond,  situated  lu'srh  amnig- 
the  broken  hills  of  the.  eastern  Highlands,  in  the  borders  of  l'i\\\  lint,',  and  a  spring  at  the 
luot  of  the  mountain  in  The  Clove. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  187 

-mountains  to  re-bellow  with  their  hideous  uproar  ;  for  at  such 
times,,  it  is  said,  they  think  the  great  Manetho  is  returning, 
once  more  to  plunge  them  in  gloomy  caverns,  and  renew  their 
intolerable  captivity."  This  fanciful  idea,  so  beautifully 
portrayed  by  the  historian  of  Knickerbocker,  is  quite  in  accord 
with  modern  science,  it  being  asserted  that  there  are  evidences 
that  the  bed  of  the  river  at  this  point  has  been  changed  from 
the  location  it  occupied  in  some  far-off  period  of  the  world's 
history. 

Fishkill  is  a  place  of  much  interest  to  the  student  of  our 
.history.  Surrounded  by  a  fertile  country,and  secured  from  in 
vasion  from  below  by  high  mountains,  it  was  chosen  during  the 
Revolution  as  a  place  of  deposit  for  military  stores.  Here 
were  confined  the  British  and  Tory  prisoners,  captured  upon  the 
Neutral  Ground  in  YVestchester  ;  and  here  for  a  while  was  the 
encampment  of  a  part  of  the  American  army,  and  also  the 
place  of  deliberation  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Matteawan  is  a  beautiful  manufacturing  village  upon  the 
Fishkill,  about  a  mile  from  the  landing,  at  the  foot  of  Mattea 
wan  Mountain.  It  was  founded  in  1814  by  Messrs.  Schenck 
and  Leonard,  at  which  time  the  Matteawan  Company  was 
formed.  There  are  several  large  factories  here  of  various 
descriptions.  In  1840  no  intoxicating  liquors  were  permitted 
to  be  sold  within  it,  and  almost  the  whole  population  pledged 
themselves  to  abstain  from  its  use. 

Near  the  village  is  situated  the  mansion  built  by  Roger 
Brett  about  the  year  1710, — one  of  the  first  built  in  this  town, 
and  now  more  generally  known  as  the  "  Teller  House."  The 
building  is  one  story  in  height,  87  x  36  feet.  Its  sides  and  roof 
were  originally  covered  with  cedar  shingles.  It  was  often 
filled  with  officers  and  soldiers  during  the  War  of  Indepen 
dence,  and  a  large  quantity  of  salt  was  at  one  time  stored  in 
the  cellar  for  the  use  of  the  army. 

As  the  reader  is  already  aware,  at  the  opening  of  the  war, 
the  Provincial  Congress  convened  at  New  York,  and  began  at 
•once  to  devise  means  to  insure  the  general  safety.  County 


i88 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


Committees  were  organized,  which  carried  the  instructions  they 
received  to  the  Town  or  Precinct  Committees.  Of  the  Fishkill 
Committee,  Dirck  G.  Brinckerhoff  was  Chairman,  Capt. 
Jacobus  Swartwout,  Dept.  Chairman,  and  John  H.  Sleight, 
Clerk.  Their  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  i3th  of  July,  at 

Capt.  Jacob  Griffin's, 
who  then  kept  a  tavern 
on  the  Hopewell  road, 
just  beyond  Swart  wout- 
ville.  The  committee,, 
called  the  "Committee 
of  Observation,"  at  once 

The  Teller  Mansion.  set     about     the    perfomi- 

ance  of  its  duty.  The  "Pledge"*  was  circulated  for  signa 
tures,  orders  being  issued  that  no  coercive  measure  be  taken 
to  induce  persons  to  sign  it ;  and  a  list  was  taken  of  persons 
who  refused  to  sign.  They  were  also  to  attend  to  the  work  of 
collecting  arms  for  the  Militia — buying  them  of  their  owners 
whenever  practicable,  and  taking  them  by  force  when 
necessary.  They  were  to  keep  a  close  watch  over  the  move 
ments  of  disaffected  persons  within  their  jurisdiction,  besides 
attending  to  other  matters  which  rendered  their  office  anything 
but  a  sinecure. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1776,  after  the  evacuation  of  New  York, 
and  the  immediate  loss  of  the  seaboard,  the  operations  of  the 
army  were  carried  farther  into  the  interior  of  the  country. 
Fishkill  then  became,  from  its  safe  position  north  of  the  High 
lands,  and  from  its  proximity  to  the  fortifications  at  West 
Point,  a  place  of  much  consideration.  The  town  was  at  once 
crowded  with  refugees,  who  fled  from  their  homes  on  Long 
Island  and  in  New  York,  and  sought  safety  here.  One  interior 
army  route  to  Boston  passed  through  this  place.  Army 
stores  were  deposited  herer  and  workshops  established,  for  the 
manufacture  of  articles  needed  by  the  troops.  The  Marquis 
de  Chastellux.t  a  French  officer  who  traveled  quite  extensively 


See  piiges  52— 55k 


t  S«e  page  162. 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  189 

in  North  America  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  says  : — 
;i  This  town,  in  which  there  are  not  more  than  fifty  houses  in 
the  space  of  two  miles,  has  been  long  the  principal  depot  of 
the  American  army.  It  is  here  they  have  placed  their  maga 
zines,  their  hospitals,  their  workshops,  &c.,  but  all  of  these  form 
a  town  in  themselves,  composed  of  handsome,  large  barracks, 
built  in  the  woods  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  ;  for  the  Ame 
rican  army,  like  the  Romans  in  many  respects,  have  hardly  any 
other  Winter  quarters  than  wooden  towns,  or  barricaded  camps, 
which  may  be  compared  to  the  hiemalia  of  the  Romans." 

The  headquarters  of  the  officers  was  at  the  "  Wharton 
House,"  now  the  residence  of  Sidney  E.  VanWyck  ;  the  bar 
racks  commenced  about  thirty  rods  north  of  this  dwelling,  and 
extended  near  the  line  of  the  road  to  the  base  of  the  moun 
tain,  where  the  road  turns  east  from  the  turnpike.  Says  a 
writer  of  this  vicinity  :  "  Near  the  residence  of  Sidney  E.  Van 
Wyck,  by  the  large  black  walnut  trees,  and  east  of  the  road 
near  the  base  of  the  mountain,  was  the  soldiers'  burial  ground. 
Many  a  poor  patriot  soldier's  bones  lie  mouldering  there.  This 
almost  unknown  and  unnoticed  burial  place  holds  hundreds  of 
those  who  gave  their  lives  for  the  cause  of  American  Inde 
pendence.  Some  twenty-five  years  ago  an  old  lady  who  was 
then  living  at  an  advanced  age,  told  the  writer  that  after  the 
battle  of  White  Plains,  she  went  with  her  father  through  the 
streets  of  Fishkill,  and  in  places  between  the  Dutch  and  Epis 
copal  churches,  the  dead  were  piled  up  by  the  side  of  the  road 
as  high  as  cord  wood.  These  were  interred  in  the  soldiers' 
burial  ground.  The  wounded  of  the  battle  who  afterwards 
died  were  buried  there.  The  constant  streams  of  death  from 
the  hospitals  were  buried  there.  The  small-pox,  which  broke 
out  in  camp  and  prevailed  very  malignantly,  added  many  more. 
Many  of  these  were  State  Militia,  and  it  seems  no  more  than 
just  that  the  State  should  make  an  appropriation  to  erect  a 
suitable  monument  over  this  spot.  Rather  than  that  it  should 
thus  remain  for  another  century,  if  a  rough  granite  boulder 
were  rolled  down  the  mountain  side  and  inscribed — 'To  the 


190  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

unknown  and  unnumbered  dead  of  t/ie  Ajnerican  Revolution* 
that  rough,  unhewn  stone  would  tell,  to  the  strangers  and 
the  passer-by,  more  to  the  praise  and  fame  of  the  town  than 
the  living  can  add  to  it  by  works  of  their  own.  It  is  doubtful 
whether  any  other  place  in  the  State  has  as  many  of  the  buried 
dead  of  the  Revolution  as  this  quiet  spot  in  the  old  town  of 
Fishkill." 

This  vicinity,  says  Lossing,  is  the  scene  of  many  of  the 
most  thrilling  events  portrayed  by  Cooper  in  his  ".$£.)',  a  Tale  of 
the  Neutral  Ground."  In  the  Wharton  House,  Enoch  Crosby, 
the  alleged  reality  of  the  novelist'sy?r////^/Af  Harvey  Birch,*  was 
subjected  to  a  mock  trial  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and 
then  confined  in  the  old  Dutch  Church  in  the  village.  Crosby 
engaged  in  the  "secret  service"  of  his  country  in  the  Autumn 
of  1776,  and  eminent  were  his  achievements  in  making  revela 
tions  to  his  Whig  friends  of  the  plans  and  movements  of  the 
Tories.  At  that  period  secret  enemies  were  more  to  be  feared 
than  open  foes  ;  among  these  in  Westchester  and  the  southern 
portions  of  DUCHESS,  Crosby  mingled  freely,  for  a  long  time, 
without  incurring  their  distrust. 

While  on  one  of  these  excursions,  he  solicited  lodgings  for 
the  night  at  the  house  of  a  woman  who  proved  to  be  a  Tory. 
From  her  he  learned  that  a  company  of  loyalists  were  forming 
in  the  neighborhood,  to  march  to  New  York  and  join  the 
British  army.  He  became  excessively  loyal ;  and,  agreeing  to 
enlist  with  them,  he  obtained  the  unbounded  confidence  of  the 
Captain,  who  revealed  to  him  all  his  plans.  That  night,  after 
all  was  quiet,  Crosby  stealthily  left  his  bed,  hastened  to  White 
Plains,  where  the  Committee  of  Safety  resided,  communicated 
the  secrets  of  the  expedition  to  them,  and  was  back  to  his 
lodgings,  unobserved,  before  daylight.  At  Crosby's  suggestion. 
a  meeting  was  held  the  following  evening,  and  while  in  session, 
the  house  was  surrounded  by  a  band  of  Whigs,  sent  for  that 
purpose  by  the  Committee  of  Safety,  and  the  inmates  were  all 

*  Sec  page  60. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  19! 

made  prisoners.*  They  were  conveyed  to  Fishkill,  manacled, 
and  confined  in  the  Old  Stone  Church,  one  of  the  relics  of  the 
Revolution  yet  remaining.  The  Committee  of  Safety,  who  had 
come  up  to  try  them,  were  at  the  Wharton  House.  After  the 
examination,  the  prisoners  were  all  remanded  to  prison,  Crosby 
among  the  rest.  By  apparent  accident  he  was  left  alone  with 
the  Committee  a  few  minutes,  and  a  plan  of  escape  was  devised. 
He  effected  it  through  a  window  at  the  northwest  corner  of  the 
church,  which  was  hidden  by  a  willow.  On  reaching  the 
ground  he  was  divested  of  his  loose  manacles;  and  with  the 
speed  of  a  deer  he  rushed  by  the  sentinels,  and  escaped  unhurt 
to  a  swamp,  followed  by  three  or  four  bullets  fired  at  random 
in  the  gloom.  He  was  made  a  prisoner  twice  afterward,  but 
managed  to  escape. f 

The  Wharton  House  has  been  owned  by  the  Van  Wyck 
family  ever  since  its  erection.  It  presents  the  same  appear 
ance,  as  far  as  may  be,  that  it  did  in  the  time  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  its  proprietors  taking  pains 
to  keep  it  so.  The  writer 
visited  it  in  June  1875,  and  was 
shown  through  it  by  the  gentle 
manly  proprietor.  Sidney  E. 
Van  Wyck,  Esq.  There  was 
the  large  square  room — in 
which  the  courts-martial  were  held,  and  in  which  the  marriage 
mentioned  in  the  "  Spy"  is  represented  to  have  taken  place — 
with  its  large  windows  and  high  mantels,  and  tall  eight-day 
clock  ticking  away  in  the  corner,  none  the  worse  for  its 
century's  wear.  Mr.  Van  Wyck  exhibited  a  tea-cup  of  ancient 
pattern,  such  as  were  in  use  when  the  traditional  lump  of  sugar 
was  suspended  from  the  ceiling,  and  swung  around  to  the 
guests.  Near  the  house,  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  was  a 
large  orchard,  some  of  the  trees  of  which  are  still  standing. 
One  of  the  trees,  cut  down  some  ten  years  since,  showed  one 

*  A  recent  writer  says  one  rendezvous  was  the  interior  of  a  haystack,  from  which; 
the  inside  hay  had  been  removed,  leaving  the  outside  form  intact. 
t  Tict.  Field  l.ook  of  the  Devolution. 


IQ2  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

hundred  and  forty  distinct  rings  in  the  wood — denoting  as 
many  years  of  life.  One  old  black  walnut  near  the  house 
serves  as  a  lightning  rod,  it  being  struck  by  the  fluid  nearly 
every  year.  It  stands  the  ordeal  well ;  but  the  seams  and 
scars  visible  all  over  the  tree  testify  to  the  severe  blows  it  has 
received. 

Another  black  walnut,  also  bearing  the  marks  of  age,  stands 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road  from  the  house,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  set  out  by  a  slave  at  work  on  the  farm  named  Kame. 
During  the  Revolution  the  toll-gate  was  hung  on  this  tree — 
this  being  the  turnpike  running  from  Albany  to  New  York. 
The  head  of  the  staple  driven  into  the  tree  disappeared  only  a 
year  or  two  since.  A  dwelling  house  in  the  vicinity  is  built,  in 
part,  from  material  taken  from  the  army  barracks.  Mr.  Van- 
Wyck  is  one  of  the  very  few  who  properly  appreciate  the  his 
toric  interest  attached  to  the  buildings  and  scenes  that  are  so 
closely  associated  with  the  momentous  events  of  our  country's 
history.  Would  that  other  of  the  many  relics  of  the  Revolu 
tion,  now  neglected  and  forgotten,  had  fallen  into  the  keeping 
of  such  hands  as  have  the  Wharton  House,  and  its  surroundings. 

Of  the  places  of  public  interest,  the  site  of  the  residence* 
of  Mrs.  John  C.  VanWyck  may  justly  claim  attention,  as  there 
the  first  printing  press  was  set  up  in  this  county.  Samuel 
Loudon,  who  had  published  a  paper  in  New  York  up  to  the 
time  of  its  evacuation,  removed  his  press  and  material  to  Fish- 
kill.  It  was  for  a  time  the  only  paper  that  could  be  found  to 
publish  the  news  of  public  interest.  Says  Lossing  ,  ''An  inter 
esting  bibliographical  fact  was  communicated  to  me,  connected 
with  Fishkill,  by  Gulian  C.  Verplanck,  Esq.  I  have  already 
noticed  the  harassing  circumstances  under  which  the  first  Re 
publican  Constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  elaborated, 
discussed,  and  adopted ;  the  Legislature  retiring  before  the 
approach  of  the  British  bayonets,  first  to  Harlem,  then  to 
King's  Bridge,  Yonkers,  White  Plains,  Fishkill,  and  Kingston. 


*  The  first    Constitutional  Convention  held  a  session  in  this  house  in  the  autumi 
of  1776. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  193 

The  Constitution  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  printed  in 
1777,  and  was  the  first  as  well  as  the  most  important  book 
ever  ^printed  in  the  State.  The  people  could  find  but  one 
press*  in  their  domain  with  which  to  print  this  work  of  their 
representatives.  It  was  done  by  Samuel  Louden,  who  had 
been  a  Whig  editor  and  pi  inter  in  the  city  of  New  York,  and 
who  had  retired  with  his  press  to  Fishkill,  where  was  the  chief 
deposit  of  stores,  hospitals,  etc.,  of  the  northern  army  of  the 
United  States." 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  recollect  having  seen,  at  the 
Centennial  Exhibition,  in  the  Government  Building,  the  sword 
of  Washington,  bearing  the  maker's  name,  J.  Bailey,  Fishkill. 
Bailey's  workshop  was  standing  a  few  years  ago  in  the  village 
of  Fishkill,  in  which  the  sword  was  wrought,  as  other  evidences 
beside  the  maker's  name  prove  beyond  a  doubt. 

At  one  time  while  Washington  was  in  the  town  he  was  a 
guest  of  John  BrinckerhofT,  who  lived  in  the  store  house  near 
Swartwoutville.  He  was  a  very  ardent,  out-spoken  Whig,  and 
was  pressing  zealously  his  point  to  learn  of  certain  movements 
which  were  then  going  on  in  the  army.  Washington 
interrupted,  "Can  you  keep  a  secret,  Mr.  BrinckerhofT?"  "  Oh 
yes,  certainly,"  he  replied,  expecting  to  hear  an  important 
revelation.  'b  So  can  I,"  replied  Washington.  On  another 
occasion,  when  it  was  time  to  retire,  "  General,"  said  Mr.  B., 
•;  You  are  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  forces  of  the  United 
States."  "  Yes  sir,  I  believe  that  I  am,"  answered  Washington. 
"General,"  said  Mr.  B.,  "  I  am  Commander-in-Chief,  too,  of 
my  own  household,  and  you  are  my  guest.  I  am  in  the  habit 
of  closing  the  duties  of  the  day  by  calling  my  family  and  the 
servants  together,  reading  the  Scriptures  and  offering  family 
worship.  The  reading  and  the  prayer  will  be  in  the  Low 
Dutch  language  ;  but  I  would  be  glad  to  have  you  join  in  spirit 
in  the  worship."  To  which  Washington  assented,  when  all 
bowed  together  in  prayer. 

*  When  the  army  was  here  [Xewburffh]  the  printing  was  done  by  a  press  at  Fish- 
kill,  in  Dueliess  County,  as  appears  from  the  printed  orders  of  that  day.— Letters  from 
Newburgh. 

m 


194  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Once  when  Washington  passed  through  the  town,  the  peo 
ple  eager  to  see  him,  had  assembled  at  a  place  where  the 
roads  crossed  each  other.  As  Washington  rode  up  and  halted 
they  all  at  once  uncovered  their  heads  before  him.  Observing 
this,  he  said,  "  Gentlemen,  put  your  hats  on ;  I  am  but  a  man 
like  yourselves,  and  wish  no  such  deference  shown  me." 

At  the  time  of  Arnold's  treason,  Washington  was  going 
through  here  to  West  Point.  The  notorious  Joshua  H.  Smith 
was  arrested  here  shortly  afterward  on  charge  of  complicity. 
Smith  afterward  published  a  work  in  England  in  which  he  says 
of  the  affair  : 

"  I  mentioned  to  General  Arnold  the  distance  I  accompa 
nied  Mr.  Anderson,  which  gave  him  apparently  much  satisfac 
tion.  His  dinner  being  ready,  I  partook  of  it,  refreshed  my 
horses,  and  in  the  evening  proceeded  to  Fishkill  to  my  family. 
Here  I  found  General  Washington  had  arrived  in  the  course 
of  the  afternoon,  on  his  return  from  visiting  Count  Rocham- 
beau,  and  I  supped  in  his  company,  with  a  large  retinue  at 
Gen.  Scott's.  The  next  day  I  went  on  business  to  Poughkeep- 
sie,  and  returned  to  Fishkill  the  ensuing  evening.  About 
midnight  the  door  of  my  room  was  burst  open  with  great 
violence,  and  instantly  the  chamber  was  filled  with  soldiers 
who  approached  my  bed  with  fixed  bayonets.  I  was  then 
without  ceremony  drawn  out  of  bed  by  a  French  officer  named 
-Grovion,  whom  I  recollected  to  have  entertained  at  my  house 
not  long  before,  in  the  suite  of  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette.  He 
commanded  me  instantly  to  dress  myself,  and  to  accompany 
him  to  General  Washington,  having  an  order  from  him,  he 
said,  to  arrest  me.  I  then  desired  of  him  the  privilege  of 
having  my  servant  and  one  of  my  horses  to  go  with  him  to 
General  Washington,  which  was  refused,  and  I  was  marched 
off  on  foot  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles." 

'•  There  is  a  little  fountain  bubbling  up  by  the  side  of  the 
road  running  between  Peekskill  and  Verplanck's  Point  named 
the  Soldier's  Spring,  from  the  circumstance  that  an  American 
soldier,  while  retreating  from  the  enemy,  stopped  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  195 

fountain  to  quench  his  thirst.  While  so  doing,  a  cannon 
ball  that  struck  the  hill  above  him,  glanced  obliquely,  hit  and 
shattered  his  thigh,  and  left  him  mortally  wounded  by  the  side 
of  the  fountain.  He  was  conveyed  in  a  wagon  that  passed 
soon  afterward,  to  Fishkill,  where  he  expired."* 

The  Reformed  Dutch  Church  was  built  about  the  year 
1725.  It  was  constructed  of  stone,  quadrangular  in  shape, 
and  the  roof  came  up  from  all  sides  to  the  center.  On  the 
apex  was  the  cupola,  in  which  the  bell  was  suspended.  The 
window  lights  were  small,  and  set  in  iron  sash-frames.  In  the 
upper  story  were  port  holes  for  defense  against  the  Indians. 
An  old  resident  used  to  say,  that  after  peace  was  proclaimed, 
a  grand  Fourth  of  July  celebration  took  place  at  Fishkill,  and 
services  were  held  in  this  edifice.  The  gallery  was  so  crowded 
that  the  supports  began  to  give  way,  A  general  rush  was 
made  for  the  doors,  but  no  serious  accident  occurred. 

This  church  was  enlarged  soon  after  the  Revolution,  and 
changes  made  in  its  appearance,  f  The  extension  covered 
Madam  Brett's  burial  plot ;  and  the  remains  of  her  and  some 
of  her  descendants  now  repose  underneath  the  present  edifice. 
The  walls  are  three  feet  thick,  and  thirty  feet  in  height.  The 
name  of  the  architect  was  Barnes.  Every  stick  of  timber, 
every  load  of  stone,  lime  and  sand,  were  brought  on  the 
ground  by  the  congregation  gratuitously.  General  Swartwout 
gave  the  shingles  for  the  roof.  The  timber  was  mostly  obtained 
from  the  Highlands.  The  congregation  turned  out  in  full-force 
with  horses,  oxen,  carts,  and  negro  slaves,  and  hauled  the 
material  on  the  ground.  Their  money  gave  out  before  the 
building  was  completed,  and  money  was  borrowed  on  Long 
Island  to  finish  the  work.  The  interior  has  been  remodeled 
•several  times.  Originally,  the  galleries  were  supported  by 
iron  rods  fastened  to  the  timbers  above  the  arch.  Then  there 
were  no  columns  to  distract  the  view,  and  the  pulpit  and  side 
pews  were  elevated  six  inches  above  the  floor.  The  pews  were 
lowered  and  columns  placed  under  the  galleries  in  1806;  four- 


Pict.  Field  Book.  f  II.  D.  B.  Bailey. 


196  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

teen  years  afterward,  the  entrance  on  Main  Street  was  closed, 
and  the  pews  re-arranged.  The  building  shows  no  symptoms 
of  decay;  and  of  all  the  churches  that  have  been  built  in  the 
Fishkills  none  have  eclipsed  it ;  and  it  still  remains  an  ornament 
to  the  village.  Lossing  says  he  was  shown  in  1848  a  silver 
tankard  belonging  to  the  communion  service  of  this  church, 
which  was  presented  to  the  society  by  Samuel  Verplanck,  Esq., 
chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  commemorating,  by  an  inscription 
upon  it,  a  resident  Norwegian,  who  died  at  the  extraordinary 
age  of  125  years. 

Several  British  and  Hessian  soldiers  were  at  one  time 
prisoners  in  the  old  Stone  Church.  The  former  were  captured 
by  strategem  at  Teller's  Point,  near  the  mouth  of  Croton  River ; 
the  latter  were  stragglers,  who  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Royalists 
near  Yonkers,  on  the  Neutral  Ground.  The  British  soldiers 
were  captured  by  Enoch  Crosby  and  a  few  men,  who  composed 
a  part  of  the  detachment  under  Col.  Van  Cortlandt,  then 
stationed  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  to  watch  operations 
upon  the  Neutral  Ground.  While  they  were  near  Teller's 
Point,  a  British  sloop  of  war  sailed  up  the  river,  and  cast 
anchor  in  the  channel  opposite.  Crosby  and  six  others  pro 
ceeded  to  the  Point,  five  of  whom,  with  himself,  concealed 
themselves  in  the  bushes ;  the  other,  dressed  in  infantry 
uniform,  paraded  the  beach,  the  officers  on  the  vessel  observed 
him,  and  eleven  men  were  sent  in  a  boat  to  effect  his  capture. 
When  the  Englishmen  landed,  the  American  took  to  his  heels. 
Unsuspicious  of  danger,  they  followed.  As  soon  as  the 
pursuers  had  passed  his  own  little  party,  who  were  scattered 
about  among  the  bushes,  Crosby  exclaimed  :  "  Come  on  my 
boys,  now  we  have  them  !"  At  this  signal  every  man  sprang  up 
in  his  place  with  a  loud  shout ;  at  the  same  time  making  such 
a  rustling  in  the  bushes  that  the  British  thought  themselves- 
surrounded  by  a  superior  force,  and  surrendered  without 
resistance.  The  next  day. they  were  marched  to  Fishkill,  and 
confined  in  the  old  Dutch  Church. 

The   Episcopal   Church— otherwise  called  the  Trinity,    or 


HISTORY  OF   DUCHESS  COUNTY.  1Q7 

English  Church — was  built,  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained, 
about  the  year  1760.  It  was  the  third  church  edifice  erected 
in  the  town,  and  the  first  of  its  denominational  character  on 
the  east  side  of  the  river  above  the  Highlands.  This  is  one  of 
the  oldest  church  edifices  in  the  State.  It  had  originally  a 
towering  spire,  only  three  feet  less  than  that  of  the  Dutch 
Church,  upon  which  perched  the  inevitable  weather-cock.  The 
said  venerable  bird  is  still  flourishing  on  another  building  in 
full  sight  of  his  more  ancient  perch.  The  interior  arrange 
ments  are  believed  to  be  the  same  as  when  first  erected. 

It  is  said  ths  arch:t3ct,  who  first  ho/I  supervision  of  its 
construction,  left  with  all  his  men,  before  the  work  of  framing 
was  completed.  Some  say  they  were  of  intemperate  habits. 
Another  set  of  hinds  was  obtained,  who  were  obliged  to 
commence  anew  the  work  of  framing  ;  it  is  said  the  two  fram 
ings  can  be  seen  in  the  upper  part  of  the  structure.  When 
this  building  was  being  raised,  a  workman  fell  from  a  height  of 
nearly  sixty  feet,  and  was  instantly  killed.  The  upper  portion 
of  the  steeple  was  taken  off  in  1810,  as  it  was  considered 
dangerous.  Another  section  was  taken  off  some  fifteen  years 
since.  Otherwise  the  exterior  has  never  been  changed, 
•though  the  building  has  stood  more  than  a  century. 

This  church  was  used  as  a  meeting  place  for  the  New  York 
'Legislature,  when  it  adjourned  from  White  Plains  -to  Fishkill. 
The  session  here  commenced  on  the  3d  of  September,  1776. 
It  was  also  used  as  a  hospital  for  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiery.  Some  years  since,  while  digging  a  grave  in  the  yard, 
the  sexton  discovered  a  skeleton,  with  bits  of  scarlet  cloth,  and 
a  brass  button,  the  remains  doubtless  of  a  British  soldier  who 
was  buried  in  his  uniform.  The  following  will  aid  the  reader 
in  obtaining  an  insight  into  the  hospital  department  located  at 
Fishkill. 

Whereas  the  principal  Surgeons  and  Physicians  of  the 
Hospitals  at  this  place  represented  to  me  in  December,  1778, 
-then  commanding  at  this  Post,  that  the  barracks  and  Episcopal 
church  were  so  crowded  with  the  sick  that  their  condition  was 
.rendered  deplorable,  and  were  otherwise  in  a  suifering  condi- 


198  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

tion  for  want  of  proper  covering,  and  there  being  no  public 
buildings  fit  to  receive  or  accommodate  the  sick  but  the  Presby 
terian  Church  of  this  town,  which  impelled  me  from  necessity 
to  order  the  said  church  to  be  taken  and  occupied  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid  ;  which  was  accordingly  occupied  :  whereby 
considerable  damage  has  been  done  to  said  building,  now, 
therefore,  I  do  hereby  certify  that  at  the  time  aforesaid,  I 
engaged  the  public  faith  that  whatever  damage  should  be  done 
to  the  said  church  would  be  repaired  or  repaid  by  the  public. 
Given  at  Fishkill,  the  8th  day  of  March,  1780. 

ALEX.   McDouGAL,  M.  General. 

The  Verplanck  House  is  situated  a  couple  of  miles  north  of 
Fishkill  Landing,  on  a  bluff  overlooking  the   Hudson.     It  is. 


The  Verplanck  House. 

built  of  stone,  a  story  and  a  half  high,  with  dormer  windows, 
in  the  style  of  the  best  Dutch  houses  built  one  hundred  years 
ago,  and  is  still  in  a  state  of  almost  perfect  preservation.  The 
cut  of  the  building  here  shown  is  only  the  ancient  edifice,  an 
addition  having  been  placed  on  the  north  end.  It  is  approached 
from  the  highway  by  a  winding  carriage  road  traversing  a 
broad,  undulating  lawn,  shaded  by  venerable  trees. 

This  mansion  is  remarkable  as  being  the  headquarters  of 
Baron  Steuben  when  the  American  army  was  encamped  in  the 
vicinity  of  Newburgh ;  and  also  the  place  where  the  Society  of 
the  Cincinnati  was  organized  in  1783.  The  meeting  for  that 
purpose  was  held  in  the  large  square  room  on  the  north  side 
of  the  passage.  This  room  is  carefully  preserved  in  its. 
original  style  by  the  occupants  of  the  dwelling. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  199 

It  was  at  the  suggestion  of  Knox,  with  the  acquiescence  of 
the  Commander-in-Chief,  that  an  expedient  was  devised,  by 
which  a  hope  was  entertained  that  the  long-cherished  friend 
ship  and  social  intercourse  of  the  officers  of  the  army  might 
be  perpetuated,  and  that  at  future  periods  they  might  annually 
communicate,  and  revive  a  recollection  of  the  bonds  by  which 
they  were  connected.  Pursuant  to  these  suggestions  the 
officers  held  a  meeting  at  the  Verplanck  mansion,  and  this 
originated  the  society. 

The  chief  objects  of  the  Society  were  to  promote  cordial 
friendships  and  indissoluble  union  among  themselves  ;  to  com 
memorate  by  frequent  reunions  the  great  struggle  they  had 
just  passed  through  ;  to  cherish  good  feeling  between  the  re 
spective  States,  and  to  extend  benevolent  aid  to  those  of  the 
Society  whose  circumstances  might  require  it.  They  formed  a 
general  Society,  and  elected  Washington  its  first  President. 
They  also  made  provision  for  auxiliary  State  societies.  To 
perpetuate  the  organization,  it  was  provided  in  the  constitution 
that  the  oldest  male  descendant  of  an  original  member  should 
be  entitbd  to  bsar  the  ORDER  and  enjoy  the  privileges  of  the 
Society.  The  ORDER  consists  of  a  gold  eagle,  suspended  by  a 
ribbon,  on  the  breast  of  which  is  a  medallion,  with  a  device 
representing  Cincinnatus  receiving  the  Roman  Senators.  Sev 
eral  State  Societies  are  yet  in  existence. 

Some  interesting  Revolutionary  reminiscences  are  given  by 
Bailey  in  his  work  on  Fishkill.  Nanna  was  a  colored  slave,  bcrn 
in  the  old  VanVoorhis  house  at  Fishkill  Landing.  She  used 
to  relate  that  when  the  British  fleet  came  up  the  river,  all  the 
family  with  whom  she  was  living,  except  her  master  and  herself, 
left  home  and  sought  a  place  of  safety  in  the  Great  Nine  Part 
ners,  at  Filkin's,  now  Mabbettsville.  When  the  British  fleet 
arrived  in  Newburgh  Bay  they  commenced  firing  their  cannon. 
Their  house  was  secluded  from  the  river,  but  cannon  balls 
came  over  the  house  and  struck  near  by.  One  came  very  near 
striking  the  house.  Her  master  proposed  going  into  the  cellar 
kitchen  as  a  place  of  greater  security,  where  they  remained  till 


200  HISTORY  OF  DUCHKSS  COUNTY. 

the  fleet  passed  by.  She  said  when  our  army  arrived  at  Fish- 
kill,  her  master  was  glad  to  think  they  now  had  protection. 
General  Putnam  came  to  Fishkill  Landing  on  horseback.  Her 
master  took  her  to  Fishkill  Village,  where  she  saw  Generals 
Washington  and  Lafayette  and  staff,  and  also  the  American 
army,  which  then  was  encamped  on  the  flats  just  north  of  the 
Highlands.  On  one  occasion  she  assisted  in  some  arrange 
ments  at  the  house  of  Robert  R.  Brett — now  the  Mrs.  Van- 
Wyck  nouse  at  Fishkill  Village — for  Washington  and  his  staff^ 
who  were  then  quartered  there.  In  1828,  at  the  time  of  the 
abolition  of  slavery  in  this  State,  Nanna  became  a  freevvoman ; 
but  she  was  soon  reduced  to  pinching  want,  and  died  a  few 
years  afterward  in  a  little  house  near  where  the  Duchess  Hat 
Works  are  now  located. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  newspapers  published  at  the 
time  to  which  they  refer  : 

JULY  1 2th,  1765. — We  hear  from  the  Fishkills  that  for  a 
week  or  two  past,  a  tiger  or  panther  has  been  seen  in  the 
woods  in  that  neighborhood,  not  far  from  Mr.  Depeyster's 
house.  It  had  killed  several  dogs,  torn  a  cow  so  that  she  died 
the  same  day,  and  carried  off  the  calf;  it  likewise  carried  off  a 
colt  about  a  week  old.  Fight  men  with  their  guns  went  in 
search  of  it,*and  started  it  at  a  distance  ;  it  fled  with  great  swift 
ness,  and  has  not  since  been  seen  at  the  Fishkills. 

FISHKILL,  Feb.  7th,  1783. — It  is  with  pain  and  regret  that 
we  mention  the  death  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Barber,  who  was 
unfortunately  killed  at  camp  the  nth  ult.  The  circumstances 
which  led  to  this  unhappy  catastrophe,  we  are  told,  are  as  fol 
lows  :  Two  soldiers  were  cutting  down  a  tree  ;  at  the  instant 
he  came  riding  by  it  was  falling,  which  he  did  not  observe,  till 
they  desired  him  to  take,  care  ;  but  the  surprise  was  so  sudden, 
and  embarrassed  his  ideas  so  much,  that  he  reined  his  horse 
to  the  unfortunate  spot  where  the  tree  fell,  which  tore  his  body 
in  a  shocking  manner,  and  put  an  immediate  period  to  his 
existence. 

Below  is  given  the  copy  of  a  letter  which  sufficiently  ex 
plains  itself: 

FISHKILL,  Nov.  12,  1777. 

SIR  : — Ever  since  my  arrival   here   in  this   quarter,  I  have 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2OI 

been  endeavoring  to  collect  the  best  idea  I  could  of  the  state 
of  things  in  New  York,  in  order  the  better  to  form  a  judgment 
of  the  probable  reinforcement  gone  to  General  Howe.  On 
the  whole,  this  is  a  fact  well  ascertained,  that  NewYork  has  been 
stripped  as  bare  as  possible  ;  that  in  consequence  of  this  the 
few  troops  there,  and  the  inhabitants,  are  under  so  strong  ap 
prehensions  of  an  attack,  as  almost  to  amount  to  a  panic,  that 
to  supply  the  deficiency  of  men,  every  effort  is  making  to  excite 
the  citizens  to  arms  for  the  defence  of  the  city.  For  this  pur 
pose  the  public  papers  are  full  of  addresses  to  them,  that 
plainly  speak  the  apprehensions  prevailing  on  the  occasion. 
Hence  I  infer,  that  a  formidable  force  is  gone  to  General 
Howe.  The  calculations  made  by  those  who  have  had  the 
best  opportunities  of  judging,  carry  the  number  from  six  to 
•seven  thousand.  If  so,  the  number  gone,  and  going  to  General 
Washington,  is  far  inferior ;  five  thousand  at  the  utmost.  The 
militia  were  all  detained  by  General  Putnam  till  it  became  too 
late  to  send  them. 

The  state  of  things  I  gave  you  when  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
seeing  you  was,  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  sacredly  true. 
I  give  you  the  present  information,  that  you  may  decide 
whether  any  further  succor  can  with  propriety  come  from  you. 

The  fleet,  with  the  troops  on  board,  sailed  out  of  the  Hook 
on  the  5th  instant.  This  circumstance  demonstrates,  beyond 
the  possibility  of  doubt,  that  it  is  General  Howe's  fixed  inten 
tion  to  endeavor  to  hold  Philadelphia  at  all  hazards  ;  and  re 
moves  all  danger  of  any  further  operations  up  the  North  River 
this  winter.  Otherwise,  Sir  Henry  Clinton's  movement  at  this 
advanced  season,  is  altogether  inexplicable. 

If  you  can  with  propriety  afford  any  further  assistance,  the 
most  expeditious  manner  of  conveying  it  will  be  to  acquaint 
General  Putnam  of  it,  that  he  may  send  on  the  troops  with 
him,  to  be  replaced  by  them.  You,  Sir,  best  know  the  uses  to 
which  the  troops  with  you  are  to  be  applied,  and  determine 
accordingly.  I  am  certain  it  is  not  His  Excellency's  wish  to 
prostrate  any  plan  you  may  have  in  view  for  the  benefit  of  the 
service,  so  far  as  it  can  possibly  be  avoided,  consistent  with  a 
due  attention  to  more  important  objects. 
I  am,  with  respect,  sir, 

Your  most  obedient  servant, 

ALEX.   HAMILTON,  A.  I).  C. 

To  GENERAL  GATES, 

'The  following  description  of  the  Highlands,  by  the  pen  of 


2O2  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Washington  Irving,  may  not  be  out  of  place  here.  It  relates 
to  the  voyage  of  Dolph  Heyliger  up  the  Hudson. 

I  have  said  that  a  voyage  up  the  Hudson  in  early  days  was 
an  undertaking  of  some  moment ;  indeed,  it  was  as  much 
thought  of  as  a  voyage  to  Europe  is  at  present.  The  sloops 
were  often  many  days  on  the  way ;  the  cautious  navigators 
taking  in  sail  when  it  blew  fresh,  and  coming  to  anchor  at 
night :  and  stopping  to  send  the  boat  ashore  for  milk  for  tea ; 
without  which  it  was  impossible  for  the  worthy  old  lady 
passengers  to  subsist.  And  there  were  the  much  talked  of 
perils  of  the  Tappan  Zee,  and  the  Highlands.  In  short,  a 
prudent  Dutch  burgher  would  talk  of  such  a  voyage  for 
months,  and  even  years,  beforehand  ;  and  never  undertook  it 
without  putting  his  affairs  in  order,  making  his  will,  and  having 
prayers  said  for  him  in  the  Low  Dutch  Church.  In 

the  second  day  of  the  voyage  they  came  to  the  Highlands.  It 
was  in  the  latter  part  of  a  calm  sultry  day,  that  they  floated 
between  these  stern  mountains.  There  was  that  perfect  quiet 
that  prevails  over  nature  in  the  languor  of  summer  heat;  the 
turning  of  a  plank,  or  the  accidental  falling  of  an  oar  on  deck. 
was  echoed  from  the  mountain  side,  and  reverberated  along  the 
shores ;  and  if  by  chance  the  captain  gave  a  shout  of  command 
there  were  airy  tongues  that  mocked  it  from  every  cliff.  To 
the  left  a  mountain  reared  its  woody  precipices,  height  over 
height,  forest  over  forest,  away  into  the  deep  summer  sky.  To 
the  right  strutted  forth  a  bold  promontory,  with  a  solitary  eagle 
wheeling  about  it ;  while  beyond,  mountain  succeeded  to  moun 
tain,  until  they  seemed  to  lock  their  arms  together,  and  confine 
this  mighty  river  in  their  embrace.  There  was  a  quiet  luxury 
in  gazing  at  the  broad,  green  bosoms  here  and  there  scooped 
out  among  the  precipices;  or  at  woodlands  high  in  air,  nodding 
over  the  edge  of  some  beetling  bluff,  and  their  foliage  all 
transparent  in  the  yellow  sunshine. 

In  the  midst  of  his  admiration  Dolph  remarked  a  pile  of 
bright,  snowy  clouds  peering  above  the  western  heights.  It 
was  succeeded  by  another  and  another,  each  seemingly  pushing 
onward  its  predecessor,  and  towering  with  dazzling  brilliancy, 
in  the  deep  blue  atmosphere  ;  and  now  muttering  peals  of 
thunder  were  faintly  heard  rolling  behind  the  mountain.  The 
river,  hitherto  still  and  glassy,  reflecting  pictures  of  the  sky  and 
land,  now  showed  a  dark  ripple  at  a  distance,  as  the  breeze 
came  creeping  up  it.  The  fish-hawks  wheeled  and  screamed, 
and  sought  their  nests  on  the  high  dry  trees  ;  the  crows  flew 


HISTORY  OK  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  203 

clamorously  to  the  rocks,  and  all  nature  seemed  conscious  of 
the  approaching  thunder  gust.  The  clouds  now  rolled  in 
volumes  over  the  mountain  tops  ;  their  summits  still  bright 
and  snowy,  but  the  lower  parts  of  an  inky  blackness.  The  rain 
began  to  patter  down  in  broad  and  scattered  drops  ;  the  wind 
freshened  and  curled  up  the  waves  ;  at  length  it  seemed  as  if 
the  bellying  clouds  were  torn  open  by  the  mountain  tops,  and 
complete  torrents  of  rain  came  rattling  down.  The  lightning 
leaped  from  cloud  to  cloud,  and  streamed  quivering  against 
the  rocks,  splitting  and  rending  the  stoutest  forest  trees.  The 
thunder  burst  in  tremendous  explosions  ;  the  peals  rolled  up 
the  long  denies  of  the  Highlands,  each  headland  making  a  new 
echo,  until  old  Bull  Hill  seemed  to  bellow  back  the  storm. 

There  is  on  the  west  shore,  in  full  view  from  the  bluffs  near 
Fishkill  Landing,  a  large  flat  rock  in  the  river  above  New- 
burgh,  known  as  Dcr  Duyvel 's  Dans  Kainer,  or  The  Devil's 
Dance  Chamber.  This  rock  has  a  broad  surface  of  about  one-half 
an  acre  (now  covered  with  Arbor  Vitae),  separated  from  the 
main  land  by  a  marsh.  It  it  here,  as  tradition  asserts,  that  the 
Indian  tribes  of  the  vicinity  held  their  festivals.  Hendrick 
Hudson,  in  his  voyage  up  this  stream,  witnessed  one  of  these 
pow-wows  ;  and  here  it  was  that  Peter  Stuyvesant  and  his  crew 
were  "  horribly  frightened  by  roystering  devils,"  according  to 
Knickerbocker.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  natives  to  build  a 
fire  on  this  rock,  and,  grotesquely  painting  themselves,  gather 
about  it,  with  hideous  contortions  of  face  and  body,  evoke  the 
Great  Spirit  to  bless  their  undertakings,  under  the  direction  of 
the  medicine  man.  Presently  the  Devil,  or  Evil  Spirit,  would 
appear  in  some  form  that  either  betokened  evil  to  their  under 
taking,  or  prophesied  success.  For  a  century  after  the  Euro 
peans  discovered  the  river,  these  rites  were  performed  upon 
this  spot,  as  many  as  five  hundred  Indians  having  been  known 
to  encase  in  the  services  at  one  time.  Tradition  tells  the  sad 

o     O 

fate  of  a  wedding  party  that  once  indiscreetly  went  ashore  at 
this  point ; 

"  For  none  that  visit  the  Indians'  den, 
]{<-ttirn  a</ain  to  the  haunts  of  men  ; 
The  knife  is  their  doom !  oh.  sad  is  their  lot! 
He-ware,  beware,  ot  the  blood-stained  spot'." 


204  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Hans  Hanson,  a  noble  Dutch  youth,  loved  Katrina  Van 
Vrooman,  a  plump,  rosy-cheeked  Dutch  damsel.  His  love  was 
reciprocated ;  and  the  pretty  maiden  consented  to  become  his 
wife.  They  lived  at  Alba.ny ;  and  a  journey  to  New  York  was 
necessary  to  procure  the  marriage  license  from  the  Governor. 
Young  Hans  invited  his  prospective  bride  to  accompany  him, 
attended  by  a  faithful  squaw,  Leshee.  The  latter  was  said  to 
have  communications  with  the  Evil  One  ;  and  was  often  con 
sulted  by  the  Dutch.  In  the  course  of  three  days  the  license 
was  obtained,  when  the  party  set  out  for  home  ;  and  on  the 
evening  of  the  sixth,  they  reached  the  vicinity  of  Dans  Kamer. 
The  company  resolved  to  go  ashore  and  partake  of  refresh 
ments.  Leshee  remonstrated,  portending  that  some  dire 
calamity  would  befall  them  for  their  temerity;  but  the  evening 
was  beautiful,  the  -place  attractive,  the  Indians  were  at  peace, 
the  war-whoop  hushed  and  the  sacrificial  fires  extinguished — 
why  regard  a  foolish  tradition  ?  In  the  midst  of  their  festivities 
they  were  startled  by  the  fierce  war-whoop  of  the  savages, 
closely  followed  by  a  flight  of  arrows.  Hans  caught  the  chief 
and  held  him  in  front  to  protect  himself  from  the  missiles,  and 
got  into  the  boat.  The  Indians  hesitated,  fearing  to  wound 
their  captain  ;  but  he  gave  the  war-shout — a  cloud  of  arrows 
darkened  the  air,  and  the  chief  fell  dead.  Hans  and  his  com 
pany  tried  to  escape  ;  but  the  Indians  pursued,  took  them  back 
and  tortured  them  in  all  the  ways  that  savage  ingenuity  could 
devise.  They  gathered  materials  for  a  fire,  and  the  forms  of 
Hans  and  his  intended  bride  were  scon  mingled  with  the  ashes 
of  the  pyre  The  remaining  captives  were  treated  more 
humanely,  and  were  finally  ransomed  by  their  friends. 

Some  years  ago  this  spot  was  searched  for  the  buried  treas 
ures  of  Captain  Kidd  ;  and  a  river  pilot  still  dreams  semi- 
yearly  of  the  finding  of  countless  chests  of  gold. 

From  Fishkill  Landing  the  view  embraces  a  vast  extent  of 
mountain  and  river  scenery  of  rare  loveliness,  and  rich  in  Rev 
olutionary  associations.  On  the  southern  verge  of  Newburgh  the 
spectator  beholds  a  low,  broad-roofed  house,  built  of  stone, 


HISTORY    OK    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  205 

with  a  Hag-staff  near,  and  the  grounds  around  garnished  with 
cannon.  That  is  the  famous  "  Headquarters  of  General 
Washington"  during  one  of  the  most  interesting  periods  of  the 
war,  and  at  its  close.  Then  the  camp  was  graced  by  the  pres 
ence  of  Mrs.  Washington  a  greater  part  of  the  time,  and  also 
by  the  cultivated  wives  of  several  of  the  officers  ;  and  until  a 
comparatively  few  years  ago,  says  Lossing,  the  remains  of  the 
borders  around  the  beds  of  a  little  garden  which  Mrs.  Wash 
ington  cultivated  for  amusement,  might  then  be  seen  in  front  of 
the  mansion.  That  building,  now  the  property  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  is  preserved  in  the  form  it  was  when  Washington 
left  it.  There  is  the  famous  room,  with  its  seven  doors  and 
one  window,  which  the  Commander-in-Chief  used  as  a  dining- 
hall.  In  that  room,  a  large  portion  of  the  chief  officers*  of 
the  Continental  army,  both  American  and  foreign,  and  many 
distinguished  civilians  were  at  different  times  entertained. 

We  cannot  forbear  a  mention  of  a  jolly  Dutchman,  named 
Burgune  Van  Alst,  who  once  lived  near  Hopewell.  He  was  a 
man  that  could  tell  his  own  stories,  crack  his  own  jokes,  and 
never  whimper  a  muscle.  Uncle  Burgune  had  a  pair  of  fleet 
horses.  He  went  to  the  river  once  upon  a  time — his  own 
declaration  so  states — to  do  an  errand,  and  drove,  as  usual,  his 
airy  black  nags.  When  about  half  way  home  on  his  return,  a 
shower  came  up  as  black  as  a  black  hat.  He  had  not  observed 
it  until  the  rain  was  close  upon  him  ;  so  he  whistled  to  his 
blacks,  and  they  started  at  a  pace  at  which  only  his  horses 
could  travel ;  but  Uncle  Burgune  declared  it  was  about  the 
evenest  race  he  ever  had  ;  could  distance  anything  else,  but 
this  time  it  was  neck  and  neck,  throughout.  For  when  he  got 
home  the  butter  tubs  had  lost  their  lids  and  were  full  of  water 


*  An  anecdote  is  toltl  illustrative  of  Baron  Stcnben,  when  the  American  army  was 
encamped  at  Newburgli,  ar  the  time  of  the  disbanding  of  the  army.  Colonel  Cochi ane  was 
stan  lint?  in  the  s'.reet,  penniless,  when  Steimen  tried  to  comfort  him.  '•  For  m\  self,"  cried 
the  bravo  officer,  "  I  can  stand  it;  but  my  wife  and  daughters  are  in  the  garret  of  i hat 
wretched  tavern,  and  I  have  nowhere  to  carry  them  and  no  means  to  remove  them. '  The 
Ba-on  hastened  to  The  fanvly  of  Coehrane.  poured  the  whole  contents  of  his  purse  upon 
the  table,  and  left  as  suddenly  as  he  had  enieml.  As  the  Baron  was  walking  toward  the 
wharf  a  wounded  ne  ro  soldier  e.-tme  up  to  him.  bi'terly  lamenting  that  he  had  no  means  to 
^et  to  Xew  York.  The  Baron  borrowed  a  dollar,  handed  it  to  the  negro,  hailed  a  sloop  ami 
put  him  on  board. 


20(5  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

in  the  back  part  of  the  wagon,  and  not  a  drop  had  touched 
him,  not  one.  As  Uncle  Burgune  grew  old,  he  enjoined  upon 
his  family  that  he  must  not  be  buried  at  Hopewell  church. 
**  You  must  bury  me  on  the  hill  behind  the  barn,"  said  he,  "  I 
won't  stir  a  step  if  you  take  me  anywhere  else,"  and  it  is 
related  when  the  funeral  procession  started  the  horses  balked, 
and  many  old  ladies  were  slyly  winking  and  intimating  that 
Uncle  Burgune  was  holding  the  horses.  His  reason  for  being 
buried  behind  the  barn  was  that  he  wanted  to  be  where  he 
could  hear  whether  his  black  folks  threshed  or  not,  for  they 
wanted  a  good  deal  of  watching. 

Petition  for  aid  to  erect  a  church  at  fish  creek  Duchess  County. 

To  his  Excellency  JOHN  MONTGOMERIE  Esqr  Capt  Generall 
and  Governor  in  Chief  in  and  over  his  Majesties  Provin 
ces  of  New  York  and  the  Territories  depending  thereon 
in  America  and  Vice  Admirall  of  the  same  &c. 

The  Humble  Petition  of  Peter  Debois  and  Abraham  Musy 
Elders  and  Abraham  Brinckerhoff  and  Hendrick  Phillips 
Deacons  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Protestant  Church  of 
the  fish  Creek  in  DUCHESS  County  in  the  Province  of 
New  York  in  the  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of  the 
members  of  the  said  church. 

HUMBLY  SHOWETH. 

That  the  members  of  said  Congregacon  being  in  daily 
expectation  of  a  minister  from  Holland  to  preach  the  Gospel 
amongst  them  according  to  the  Canons  Rules  and  Discipline 
of  the  Reformed  Protestant  churches  of  the  United  Neither- 
lands  and  therefore  have  agreed  amongst  themselves  to  erect 
and  build  a  Convenient  church  for  the  Publick  worship  of  God 
nigh  the  said  fish  Creek  in  the  county  aforesaid  but  finding 
that  the  said  building  would  be  very  Chargeable  and  therefore 
as  in  the  like  cases  has  been  Practiced  and  is  usuall  in  this 
Province  they  would  desire  the  aid  help  and  assistance  of  all 
Charitable  and  well  disposed  Christians  within  this  Province 
for  the  Compleating  of  said  Building. 

They  therefore  most  humbly  Pray  for  your  Excellencys 
Lycence  to  be  granted  to  the  said  Protestant  Congregacon  to 
collect  gather  and  Receive  the  benevolence  and  free  gifts  of 
all  such  Inhabitants  of  this  Province  as  shall  be  willing  to  con- 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2O"J 

tribute  somewhat  toward  the  erecting  and  building  said  Church 
as  aforesaid  for  the  Publick  service  of  almighty  God  and  that 
only  for   such   a   time  as  yor   Excellency  will  be   pleased    to 
grant  the  said  Lycence. 
And  yor  Petitionrs  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  Pray  &c. 

in  the  behalf  of  the  Elders  and  Deacons  and  other  mem 
of  said  Congregacon  28  June  1731.  PETER  Du  Bois 

The  Reformed  Dutch  Churches  in  Poughkeepsie  and  Fish- 
kill,  from  the  most  reliable  authority  that  can  be  obtained, 
were  both  of  them  organized  about  the  year  1716.  Previous 
to  this  services  were  performed,  no  doubt,  in  both  places.  This 
was  the  case  at  Hopewell,  prior  to  the  church  organization. 
For  the  lack  of  better  accommodations  the  services  were  held 
in  barns.  On  one  time  the  meeting  was  being  held  in  a  barn 
belonging  to  Isaac  Storm,  of  Stormville,  and  the  preacher  had 
occasion  to  ask  the  question,  "  Who  is  Beelzebub?"  A  little 
Irishman  perched  on  a  high  beam,  thinking  himself  personally 
addressed,  sprang  to  his  feet  and  cried  out — "  Och,  mon,  that's 
easily  tould  by  a  mon  of  ch'racter  ;  the  High  Praist  of  I  Till, 
sir." 

The  Dutch  church  at  Poughkeepsie  was  the  first  church 
built  in  DUCHESS  County,  probably  about  1720;  the  one  at 
Fishkill  was  erected  some  years  afterward.  There  was  a  glebe 
attached  to  the  latter  church,  purchased  in  two  lots.  One  of 
them,  "  containing  seven  and  almost  a  half  acres,"  was 
purchased  of  Madame  Brett.  The  other  portion  ''containing 
three  quarters  of  an  acre  and  fifteen  rods,  whereon  to  erect  a 
church  or  house,"  was  purchased  from  Johannis  Terboss.  This 
was  the  first  church  built  on  the  Rombout  Patent. 

For  twenty  years  it  was  the  only  church  on  the  patent.  It 
was  attended  on  alternate  Sabbath  mornings  by  people  living 
far  into  the  interior  beyond  Hopewell  and  New  Hackensack. 
For  beside  the  Poughkeepsie  church,  there  was  no  other 
church,  at  that  day,  north  of  the  Highlands,  except  in  the 
vicinity  of  Albany.  Whenever,  therefore,  the  preacher  lifted 
up  his  voice  at  Fishkill,  it  was  the  only  voice,  the  only  open 
pulpit  in  all  that  land. 


208  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Rev.  Cornelius  Van  Schie  was  the  first  pastor.  He  was- 
installed  in  October,  1731,  and  removed  to  Albany  in  1738. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Benj.  Meinema.  His  letter  of 
recommendation  by  the  Holland  professors  speaks  of  him  as 
having  undergone  a  proper  course  of  study,  as  a  "  praestantis- 
simum  juvenem,"  a  most  excellent  young  man.  He  was 
called  here  in  1745,  retiring  in  1758,  and  died  in  Septem 
ber,  1761.  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Nist  was  the  next  pastor,  but  died 
in  early  manhood.  Van  Nist  and  Meinema  were  both  buried 
in  the  burial  ground  adjoining  the  church.  As  population 
increased,  church  organizations  were  established  at  Hopewell 
and  New  Hackensack  ;  at  the  former  place  in  1757  and  in  the 
latter  the  year  following.  These  organizations  were  afterwards 
associated  with  Poughkeepsie  and  Fishkill,  and  so  continued 
for  years,  having  one  settled  pastor  over  them  all.  The 
records  of  the  church  at  Fishkill  were  until  a  late  period  kept 
in  the  Dutch  language,  and  extended  back  to  the  year  1730. 
On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1826,  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of 
__  American  Independence,  a 
banner  was  strung  across 
f^SSi  the  street  from  the  top  of  the 
poplar  tree,  under  the  shade 
of  which  the  first  Metho 
dist  minister  preached  in 
Fishkill,  to  the  spire  of  the 
Dutch  Stone  Church.  A 
procession  was  formed  at 
the  lower  end  of  the  village, 
headed  by  a  body  of  cavalry 
dressed  in  blue  and  scarlet 

ow  Dutch  stone  church.  uniforms,  and  followed  by 

the  citizens  with  flags  and  banners.  Arriving  at  the  church 
the  cavalry  dismounted,  and  the  procession  marched  in.  A 
band  of  music  occupied  the  whole  front  of  the  gallery,  play 
ing  "  Hail  to  the  Chief."  Rev.  Dr.  DeWitt  delivered  the 
oration ;  Rev.  Dr,  Westbrook  was  Marshal  of  the  day,  and 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  209 

Gen.  Swartwout  and  other  Revolutionary  worthies,  participated 
in  the  general  rejoicing. 

The  old  Dutch  Church  here  shown  is  copied  from  an  old 
engraving  in  Barber's  Historical  Collection,  and  represents  the 
more  ancient  appearance  of  the  structure,  together  with  the 
willow  tree  partially  covering  the  window  through  which  Enoch 
Crosby  effected  his  memorable  escape. 

The  second  church  built  in  this  town  was  Presbyterian, 
and  was  erected  two  miles  east  of  Fishkill,  at  Brinckerhoffville. 
in  1748.  This  is  worthy  of  mention  as  being  the  first  church 
of  that  denomination  built  within  the  present  limits  of 
DUCHESS.  It  occupied  the  site  of  one  burned  some  years 
ago.  It  is  said  that  this  congregation  was  collected  about  the 
year  1746,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kent.  In  1747,  Sept.  i7th  and 
1 8th,  the  frame  of  the  meeting  house  was  raised,  and  an  acre 
of  ground  given  by  Jacobus  Terboss  as  a  burial  ground  and 
site  for  the  building.  The  condition  of  the  grant  was  that  the 
church  be  organized  in  accordance  with  the  order  of  the  King 
of  Scotland.  The  first  interment  in  the  above  lot  was  the 
wife  of  Stephen  Ladoe,  in  Sept.  1747.  Rev.  Chauncey  Graham 
was  ordained  pastor  of  this  church,  in  connection  with  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Poughkeepsie.  In  1852  Mr.  Graham's 
connection  with  the  latter  church  was  dissolved  by  the  Presby 
tery  then  convened  at  New  York,  owing  to  the  failure  of  that 
church  to  meet  their  pecuniary  engagements.  His  whole  time 
was  then  devoted  to  the  church  in  Fishkill. 

The  appearance  of  this  first  church  edifice  is  thus 
described  :  It  was  a  wooden  building,  two  stories  high,  with 
tight  shutters  on  the  lower  windows.  The  center  pews  had 
very  high  backs,  so  that  nothing  could  be  seen  of  a  person 
when  seated  but  his  head.  The  pulpit  was  shaped  like  a  wine 
glass,  and  over  it  the  inevitable  sounding-board,  fastened  to  the 
ceiling  with  iron  rods.  The  galleries  were  very  high,  supported 
by  heavy  columns.  The  arch  only  extended  to  the  front  of 
the  gallery,  and  under  it  were  large  timbers  extending  across 
the  church  to  keep  it  from  swaying.  These  timbers  were 


210  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

elegantly  carved.  The  church  was  much  disturbed  and  the 
building  greatly  damaged  during  the  Revolution. 

The  third  church  erected  within  the  town,  the  first  of  its 
denominational  character  in  the  present  limits  of  the  county, 

and  the  first  on  the  east  side  of 
the  river  above  the  Highlands, 
was  the  English  or  Trinity 
[Episcopal]  Church  at  Fishkill 
Village.  This  church  edifice  is 
among  the  oldest  in  the  State. 
In  reference  to  its  erection.  Dr. 
Buel  furnished  several  years 
since  a  copy  of  a  subscription 
paper  '•  for  the  purchase  of  the 
Glebe  in  some  convenient  place 
church.  Jn  Poughkeepsie,  Rombout,  the 

Great  Nine  Partners,  or  Beekman,"  bearing  date  April  2nd, 
1766.  The  subscription  states:  "And  inasmuch  as  there  is 
not  any  settled  church  of  England  in  the  said  county,  by  which 
means  public  worship,  according  to  the  Liturgie  of  the  said 
church,  is  altogether  neglected."  From  this  statement  it  would 
appear  there  might  not  have  been  an  Episcopal  church  at  that- 
time  within  the  county. 

The  first  services,  says  Dr.  Buel,  were  held  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Seabury,  in  the  year  1756.  Rev.  John  Beardsley  was  appointed 
for  the  Poughkeepsie,  Beekman  and  Rombout,  and  accepted 
Oct.  26th,  1766.  Beardsley  preached  his  first  sermon  at  the 
house  of  William  Humphrey,  in  Beekman,  Dec.  2ist,  1766. 
from  Luke  ii:  32.  Trinity  Church,  Fishkill,  and  Christ 
Church,  Poughkeepsie,  were  united  under  one  rector  for  nearly 
fifty  years.  A  controversy  about  the  Glebe  at  Poughkeepsie, 
which  they  owned  together,  was  adjusted. 

The  Methodists  first  began  to  hold  services  in  Fishkill 
about  the  year  1794.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  in  the 
street,  under  a  poplar  tree  near  the  Baxter  House.  The 
preacher,  named  Croft,  attracted  a  large  crowd.  The  first 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  211 

society  was  formed  in  Fishkill  Hook,  about  the  beginning 
of  the  present  century.  Near  this  place  is  a  gro\*e  in  which 
the  Methodists  have  held  camp-meetings  ai  various  times.  The 
first  place  of  worship  erected  by  this  denomination,  in  the 
original  town  of  Fishkill.  was  built  at  Fishkill  Landing  in  1824. 
It  is  now  known  as  Swift's  Hall.  At  present  they  have  no  less 
than  eight  church  edifices  in  the  territory  mentioned. 

The  first  church  edifice  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town 
was  erected  at  Hopewell,  in  1764;  and  the  following  year 
another  was  built  at  New  Hackensack.  Both  were  Dutch 
Reformed.  This  period  of  the  church  was  very  much 
disturbed  by  unfortunate  dissensions,  being  divided  into  two- 
parties  called  Coetus  and  Conferentia.  The  latter  were 
tenacious  about  old  customs,  ordination  of  ministers  in 
Holland,  and  the  Low  Dutch  language  in  church  worship. 
The  Coetus  party  favored  the  ordaining  of  ministers  in  America, 
preaching  in  English,  etc.  Each  of  these  parties  supplied 
themselves  with  a  preacher  of  their  own  belief,  who  officiated 
over  the  same  churches  for  nearly  ten  years.  It  was  a  stormy 
period  in  the  church,  when  bitter  feelings  were  engendered, 
and  but  little  good  done. 

"  Tumults  on  the  Lord's  day  at  the  door  of  the  church  were 
frequent.  Sometimes  the  house  of  worship  was  locked  up  by 
one  part  of  the  congregation  against  the  other.  Quarrels 
respecting  the  services  and  the  contending  claims  of  the 
different  ministers  of  the  two  bodies  were  frequent.  The 
ministers  were  frequently  assembled  in  the  pulpit,  and  public 
worship  was  disturbed  and  even  terminated  by  violence.  On 
one  occasion  a  minister  was  forcibly  taken  out  of  the  pulpit  by 
a  member  of  the  opposite  party.  This  difference  happily 
terminated  in  1772."* 

The  location  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Fishkill  was 
formerly  at  Middlebush,  where  they  owned  a  meeting  house 
and  lot.  Their  present  location  is  on  Fishkill  Plains.  They 
were  organized  November  i3th,  1782,  with  a  constituent  mem- 


212  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS     COUNTY. 

bership  of  eighteen,  by  Elder  John  Lawrence,  of  Pawling, 
and  Elder  Nathan  Cole,  of  Carmel.  The  services  were  held 
at  the  house  of  Abraham  Van  Wyck.  Elder  James  Phillips 
was  one  of  the  constituent  members,  and  was  called  to  be 
their  first  pastor.  He  served  them  many  years  with  great 
acceptance,  and  died  in  February.  1793.  The  church  licensed 
Jonathan  Atherton  to  improve  his  gifts,  and  to  conduct  a 
meeting  at  New  Marlborough,  where  a  branch  was  organized, 
which  called  for  his  ordination. 

Mr.  A.  Van  Wyck  gave  the  society  a  deed  for  a  piece  of 
land  for  the  site  of  their  house  and  burial  place  at  Middlebush. 
Elder  Lewis  was  pastor  of  the  church  for  several  years.  He 
preached  at  Middlebush,  and  in  the  Union  Meeting  House,  at 
Green  Haven.  In  March  of  1821,  Elder  Burtch  and  wife 
united  with  them  by  letter  from  Stanford.  He  served  them  as 
pastor  for  several  years.  When  he  first  settled  with  them 
they  met  for  worship  in  private  houses.  Through  his  judicious 
labors  they  succeeded  in  erecting  a  spacious  house  of  worship, 
in  which  he  had  the  privilege  of  preaching  to  large  and  atten 
tive  congregations.  Elder  John  Warren,  of  Carmel,  preached 
for  them  a  part  of  the  time  for  two  or  three  years,  and  was 
succeeded,  in  the  autumn  of  1832,  by  Elder  Isaac  Eevan. 
Elders  Underbill,  Ambler,  and  others,  have  since  ministered  to 
this  church  with  acceptance. 

The  Second  Baptist  Church  of  Fishkill,  ivas  organized  by  a 
council  composed  of  Elders  Hull,  Sturdevant,  Johnson,  Ferris, 
etc.,  which  met  at  the  house  of  N.  Miller.  February  lyth, 
1808.  It  at  first  consisted  of  twelve  members.  Elders  Lewis 
Barrett,  and  Burtch,  preached  for  them  more  or  less  from  1814 
to  1823  ;  and  then  for  a  period  of  twenty  years  were  supplied 
a  part  of  the  time  by  Elder  N.  Robinson,  of  Farmers  Mills. 
Elder  Isaac  Bevan,  then  pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Fishkill, 
supplied  them  one  day  in  each  month  for  two  years. 

Elder  Bevan  commenced  preaching  in  Franklindale  in  the 
Autumn  of  1837,  at  which  time  there  was  but  one  Baptist 
member  in  the  place.  A  series  of  meetings  was  held  the 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2  13 

following  Spring  in  a  schoolhouse.  Elder  Bevan  was  ar-sisted 
by  Elder  Roberts,  of  Pleasant  Valley.  A  revival  resulted.  In 
June,  1838,  twenty-three  members  organized  into  a  church. 
Elders  Dowling,  Warren,  Wilks,  Roberts,  and  Bevan,  assisted 
in  the  constitution.  John  Johns,  from  Hamilton,  supplied 
them  for  a  number  of  months.  B.  Clapp,  at  his  own  expense, 
erected  a  neat  and  commodious  house  for  the  use  of  the 
church,  and  for  a  select  school.  Elder  I).  T.  Hill  became 
their  pastor  in  1839.  He  preached  for  the  church  at  New- 
burgh  the  same  year.  C.  F.  Underbill  supplied  them  for  a 
time.  The  church  has  sustained  a  Sabbath  School  from  the 
time  of  its  organization. 

In  1834,  a  number  of  brethren  belonging  to  the  Kent  and 
Fishkill  churches,  finding  it  inconvenient  to  attend  public 
worship  at  a  distance  of  five  or  six  miles  over  a  hilly  road, 
resolved,  together  with  some  of  their  neighbors,  to  build  a 
meeting-house.  This  was  done  in  the  summer  of  1834.  May 
4th,  fifteen  brethren  and  sisters  constituted  themsehes  a 
church,  to  be  known  as  the  Baptist  Church  at  Shenandoah, 
and  were  recognized  by  a  council  called  for  that  purpose, 
composed  of  Elders  Barnard,  Miller,  Robinson,  etc.  George 
Horton  was  ordained  their  first  pastor,  and  Jacob  Charlock, 
deacon.  The  first  Baptists  known  to  have  preached  in  this 
place  were  Elders  Cole,  Gorton,  and  Hopkins.  They 
preached  in  the  woods,  in  barns,  and  in  dwellings.  For  many 
years  previous  to  the  erection  of  their  house  of  worship,  the 
neighborhood  was  notorious  for  vice  and  immorality.  In 
January,  1836,  a  series  of  meetings  was  held,  continuing  some 
weeks.  Elder  Enos  Ballard,  from  the  Red  Mills,  assisted, 
whose  labors  were  richly  blessed.  It  was  thought  about  one 
hundred  were  converted,  fifty  of  whom  were  baptized. 

A  little  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolution,  an 
academy  building  was  erected  near  Brinckerhoffville.  To  the 
credit  of  Fishkill  be  it  said,  this  was  the  first  academy  estab 
lished  within  the  county.  Dr.  John  B.  Livingston  and  other 
distinguished  men  of  Church  and  State  are  said  to  have 


:2I4  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

^received  their  early  academic  education  at  this  place.  For  a 
time,  Rev.  Chauncey  Graham  taught  them.  The  building  was 
surmounted  with  a  cupola,  and  provided  with  a  bell.  Shortly 
.after  the  Revolution  it  was  taken  down  and  rebuilt  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  where  it  was  known  as  the  DUCHESS  Academy.  It  is 
now  used  for  an  "  Old  Ladies'  Home." 

Johannas  Tur  Boss  was  one  of  the  first  representative  men 
.in  this  part  of  the  county.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Colonial  Legislature  for  1716  to  1728  ;  he  is  also  spoken  of  as 
Judge  in  old  manuscripts. 

Philip  Verplanck  was  a  native  of  the  patent,  and  son  of  the 
elder  Gulian  Verplanck,  after  whom  Verplanck's  Point  is  named. 
He  represented  the  Manor  of  Cortlandt  from  1737  to  1764. 

Derick  Brinckerhoff  was  a  member  of  the  C^onial  Assem- 
,bly  from  1768  to  1777  ;  was  member  of  the  First  Provincial 
•Congress,  chairman  of  Vigilance  Committee  of  the  town  in 
the  Revolution,  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  a  Colonel 
of  the  Militia,  besides  occupying  other  positions  of  trust. 

Jacobus  Swartwout  served  as  a  captain  in  the  French  and 
Indian  Wars,  was  a  member  of  the  Vigilance  Committee,  and 
.afterward  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature. 

Judge  Abraham  Adriance  resided  in  Hopewell.  He  was 
an  active  politician,  and  in  1798  was  elected  to  the  Legisla 
ture  of  the  State. 

The  Schencks  were  an  old  family  that  settled  in  and  about 
Matteawan  and  New  Flackensack.  Some  of  that  name  took 
a  conspicuous  part  in  the  cause  of  the  Colonies  during  the  great 
.struggle  for  independence. 

Thomas  Storm  kept  a  tavern,  with  store  attached,  east  of 
Hopewell,  He  was  a  member  of  the  Vigilance  Committee  in 
the  Revolution,  and  also  of  the  Legislature  from  1781  to  1784. 
He  once  was  candidate  for  Lieut.  Governor  of  the  State. 

Dr.  Theodorus  and  Isaac  Van  Wyck  were  representative 
men  of  a  noble  family  that  settled  in  and  about  Fishkill  Vil 
lage  and  the  Hook. 


HYDE  PARK. 


POPULATION,  2,800. SQUARE  ACRES.  22,501. 


C-fJYDE  PARK  was  named  in  compliment  to  Edward 
Hyde,  Lord  Cornbury,  who  was  governor  of  the  State  at 
the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  It  was  formed  from 
Clinton  January  2oth,  1821.  The  lower  part  of  the 
town  embraces  most  of  the  tract  of  land  known  as  the  "  Nine 
Water  Lots,"  while  its  extreme  north  part  includes  a  portion  of 
what  is  locally  distinguished  as  the  "  manor  land,'"  being  a  part 
of  that  granted  to  Col.  Henry  Beekman.  A  portion  of  the 
Nine  Partners  tract  is  likewise  included.  Hog  and  Lloyd's 
Hills,  in  the  north  part,  are  the  highest  points,  being  each 
about  five  hundred  feet  above  the  river.  Crom  Elbow  Creek 
and  the  Fallkill,  tributaries  of  the  Hudson,  are  the  principal 
streams.  Its  surface  is  principally  a  rolling  and  hilly  upland. 
The  following  are  from  the  early  Town  Records : 

The  first  General  Annual  Election  in  Hyde  Park  com 
menced  by  opening  the  Poll  at  the  House  of  Garrett  P.  Lan 
sing  in  said  town,  on  the  last  Tuesday  in  April  24,  1821,  and 
continued  next  day  at  Russell's  Tavern  and  closed  the  third 

2I5 


2l6  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

day  at  P.   Bogardus'   Hotel,   in  the  village  of  Hyde   Park,  in 
same  town,  conducted  under  the  inspection  of 

JAMES  DUANE  LIVINGSTON,  Snpennsor. 
REUBEN  SPENCER,  Town  Clerk. 
TOBIAS  L.  STOUTENBURGH,  1 
PETER  A.  SCHRYVER,  y  Assessors. 

CHRISTOPHER  HUGHES,       ) 

In  pursuance  of  an  ";  Act  entitled  an  Act  to  provide  for  tak 
ing  a  census  and  for  other  purposes,"  the  Supervisor,  Town 
Clerk,  and  Assessors  of  the  town  of  Hyde  Park,  in  the  county 
of  Duchess,  convened  on  the  icjth  day  of  May,  1821,  at  the 
house  of  Philip  Bogardus  in  the  said  town,  and  passed  the  fol 
lowing  resolutions,  to  wit : — Resolved,  That  owing  to  the  re 
duced  size  and  compactness  of  the  town,  it  is  inexpedient  to 
appoint  more  than  one  person  to  take  the  census  of  the  said 
town  of  Hyde  Park.  Also  that  Charles  A.  Shaw  is  in  our 
opinion  a  discreet  and  proper  person  for  that  purpose,  and 
that  he  be,  and  is  hereby  appointed  by  us  to  take  the  census. 
etc.,  agreeable  to  the  Act  above  mentioned  in  all  things. 

Dated  Hyde  Park,  May  19,  1821. 

Hyde  Park  Village  is  an  ancient  settlement,  lying  in  a 
beautiful  and  picturesque  region  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson. 
Fronting  the  river  at  this  point  are  abrupt  bluffs,  150  to  200 
feet  high,  from  the  summits  of  which  a  broad  level  plateau 
extends  back  into  the  country,  losing  itself  among  the  hills 
and  nestling  valleys.  Scattered  over  this  wide  domain  are 
elegant  residences,  with  grounds  laid  out  in  the  finest  style  of 
English  landscape  gardening.  The  residences  are  for  the  most 
part  situated  upon  the  elevations  overlooking  the  river;  'some 
times  in  full  view  of  the  main  road,  and  at  other  times 
completely  hidden  by  embowering  trees.  Carriage  roads, 
leading  from  the  highway,  bordered  by  venerable  shade  trees 
and  crossing  rustic  bridges,  traverse  the  broad  undulating 
lawns.  Now  and  then  a  quaint  lodge  peeps  out  from  the  trees 
and  shrubbery,  while  at  intervals  are  broad  stretches  of  primi 
tive  forests,  side  by  side  with  cultivated  fields  and  verdant 
meadows,  in  which  the  herds  are  quietly  grazing.  It  needs 
but  little  exertion  of  fancy  to  imagine  one's  self  in  the  midst 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  217 

of  an  English  country  scene,  with  the  manorial  estates  of 
English  noblemen  stretched  out  before  the  view.  In  the  upper 
part  of  the  town,  bordering  the  river,  are  the  seats  of  sev 
eral  wealthy  land  proprietors,  branches  of  the  ancient  Living 
ston  family. 

The  earliest  settler  in  the  town  of  Hyde  Park  is  believed  to 
have  been  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh,  who  came  from  Holland 
about  the  time  of  the  division  between  the  Protestants  and 
Catholics  at  the  beginning  of  the  i8th  century.  He  was  a 
Protestant,  and  was  forced  to  flee  the  country.  He  was  the 
oldest  son,  and  therefore  inherited  the  entire  paternal  estate, 
worth  seven  millions  of  dollars.  This  he  made  over  to  his 
brothers  and  sisters,  for  them  to  hold  during  their  natural 
lives  ;  at  their  death  it  was  to  revert  to  him  or  his  heirs.  This 
property  was  sufficient  to  afford  them  all  a  comfortable  liveli 
hood  ;  and  when  the  last  one  died,  and  no  one  appearing  to 
claim  the  estate,  it  was  advertised  according  to  law.  After  the 
period  required  by  the  statute  had  elapsed,  and  no  claimant 
appearing,  it  was  sold,  and  the  money  placed  at  interest  in 
a  Holland  bank.  Here  it  draws  seven  per  cent,  yearly.  Three 
per  cent,  is  added  to  the  principal  each  year ;  the  remaining 
four  per  cent,  goes  to  the  education  of  poor  children.  It  is 
now  nearly  seventy  years  since  the  property  was  advertised ; 
and  the  principal,  with  compound  interest  added,  now  foots  up 
to  more  than  $50.000,000.  This  princely  estate  properly 
belongs  to  the  numerous  heirs  of  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  now 
residing  in  this  country. 

Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  moved  to  Hyde  Park  about  the  year 
1792.  He  was  merchant  in  Westchester  for  awhile.  He  was 
proprietor  of  one  of  the  Nine  Water  Lots,  besides  owning 
large  tracts  of  land  in  other  parts  of  the  County.  These 
tracts  he  had  acquired  by  trade  and  purchase  of  the  original 
proprietors.  He  gave  to  his  son  Luke  350  acres,  located  about 
Hyde  Park  Landing;  1600  acres  to  his  son  Peter,  including 
the  slate  quarry  in  the  town  of  Clinton  ;  to  his  daughter  Mar 
garet,  some  1400  acres,  east  of  the  latter,  on  which  the  old 


2l8  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

mill  at  Bull's  Head  was  built  and  afterwards  burned ;  together 
with  other  vast  domains  to  others  of  his  heirs.  Jacobus  owned 
considerable  land  property  lying  between  Rhinebeck  and 
Poughkeepsie  ;  it  is  said  that  there  are  recorded,  in  the  County 
Clerk's  Office,  quit-claim  deeds  of  no  less  than  seventy-five 
farms,  lying  in  the  County  north  of  Poughkeepsie,  the  title  to 
which  comes  direct  from  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh. 

The  early  settlers  built  log  houses  for  temporary  shelter 
until  such  time  as  they  could  erect  more  substantial  dwellings. 
Jacobus  built  three  stone  houses  near  Hyde  Park  Village.  The 
first  one  built  is  yet  standing,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation, 
on  the  east  side  of  the  road,  south  of  the  village.  This  house 
is  noted,  not  only  as  being  the  first  substantial  stone  house 
built  in  Hyde  Park,  but  also  as  having  been  occupied  two  or 
three  weeks  by  Gen.  Washington  during  the  War  of  the  Revo 
lution.  A  few  years  since  a  gentleman  conceived  the  idea  of 
spending  a  night  in  the  apartment  occupied  by  Washington. 
He  procured  a  bed  from  the  hotel,  and  took  up  his  quarters, 
his  only  companions  being  a  colony  of  squirrels  which  some 
what  interrupted  his  repose.  He  afterwards  wrote  an  interest 
ing  account  of  his  adventures  that  night  in  the  old  mansion. 
The  second  house  was  built  near  the  Lower  or  Old  Landing, 

likewise  of  stone.  The  brick 
for  the  chimney  was  brought 
over  from  Holland,  with  glazed 
tiles  for  the  broad  fireplace,  on 
which  were  imprinted  scenes  in 
Bible  history.  On  tearing  down 
the  building  a  few  years  since, 

^ic'lioTisofSFLTn^5^  after  il:  had  stood  nearly  a 
century  and  a  half,  the  chimney  was  left  standing.  The 
mortar  was  of  such  a  quality  that  it  was  harder  than  the  brick, 
and  it  was  therefore  found  to  be  impracticable  to  tear  the 
chimney  down,  so  it  was  pushed  over,  the  fall  breaking  it  into 
two  pieces  only. 

When    Vaughan    returned    down    the    river,    after    having 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2IQ 

burned  Kingston,  he  cannonaded  the  house.  One  ball  passed 
directly  through  the  hall,  entering  at  the  front  door  and  out  at 
the  rear  one,  both  of  which  were  open,  without  even  touching 
the  building.  Another  ball  struck  the  house  without  doing 
much  damage.  Both  these  balls  are  preserved  by  the  inhabi 
tants  of  the  vicinity  as  mementoes  of  past  barbarism.  The 
cut  given  of  this  house  is  copied  from  an  old  drawing  now  in 
possession  of  Tobias  L.  Stoutenburgh,  of  Poughkeepsie. 

The  third  house  built  by  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh  was  situated 
west  of  the  post  road  below  the  village  of  Hyde  Park.  The 
ruins  are  yet  visible,  surrounded  with  small  trees  and 
shrubbery. 

Another  antiquated  mansion  stands  at  East  Park,  formerly 
Union  Corners,  built  by  William  Stoutenburgh,  a  son  of 
Jacobus.  It  is  provided  with  a  basement,  nicely  finished  in 
panel  work.  This  was,  in  the  days  of  slavery  in  this  state,  set 
apart  for  the  use  of  the  slaves.  The  house  is  now  occupied 
by  Mr.  Van  Wagener. 

It   is  said  that  a  member  of  the  Stoutenburgh  family,  when 

a  very  old  man,  built  a  stone 
wall  near  this  house  which 
stood  upwards  of  a  hundred 
years.  He  built  it  of  small 
flat  stones,  and  owing  to 
bodily  infirmities  was  obliged 

iiousc  at  East  park.  to  sit  in  his  chair  while  doing 

the  work.  The  wall  could  be  shaken  almost  its  entire  length 
by  a  person  standing  at  one  end. 

At  the  time  of  Vaughan's  visit  to  Hyde  Park,  already  referred 
to,  a  British  force  was  sent  ashore  to  plunder  as  usual,  and  to 
castigate  such  of  the  Whigs  as  had  incurred  the  displeasure  of 
Great  Britain.  A  small  body  of  Americans  lay  just  over  the 
point,  with  the  evident  intention  of  disputing  their  landing.  A 
few  shots  were  exchanged  ;  but  as  the  enemy  passed  further 
down  the  stream,  they  got  into  a  position  that  enabled  their 
guns  to  rake  the  valley  in  which  the  Americans  were  stationed. 


220  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

A  portion  of  the  latter  took  refuge  behind  the  stone  house 
already  spoken  of,  but  were  finally  driven  back  to  the  plain  on 
which  the  village  stands.  The  enemy  did  not  care  to  follow, 
so  after  burning  the  landing,  a  shop  and  storehouse,  the  proper 
ty  of  Luke  Stoutenburgh,  they  departed,  to  pursue  their  work 
of  desolation  at  other  points.  This  skirmish  was  the  nearest 
approximation  to  a  battle  that  ever  occurred  within  the  limits 
of  DUCHESS  County,  that  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
writer. 

It  is  said  that  the  British  were  piloted  by  three  Tories 
named  Dhupp.  These  renegadoes,  from  their  intimate  knowl 
edge  of  the  country,  would  point  out  the  houses  of  the  Whigs 
along  the  river,  which  the  enemy's  gunners  would  make  a 
target  of  their  skill.  For  their  services  they  were  promised  a 
large  section  of  land  north  of  Hyde  Park,  in  case  the  British 
arms  were  successful. 

East  of  Hyde  Park,  on  the  lower  road  leading  to  East 
Park,  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  is  a  lonely  spot  known  as  Obey's 
Folly.  This  locality  is  pointed  out  as  the  scene  of  a  bloody 
encounter  in  Revolutionary  times,  in  which  one  of  the  Dhupps 
met  a  deserved  fate.  At  the  time  spoken  of,  Luke  Stouten 
burgh,  a  son  of  Jacobus,  was  riding  along  this  road.  Elach  side 
was  bordered  by  a  forest,  with  a  dense  growth  of  underbrush, 
creeping  close  up  to  the  roadside.  The  general  insecurity  of 
the  time  led  every  traveler  to  arm  himself  for  self  defence,  for 
personal -encounters  and  deadly  strifes  were  then  common  occur 
rences.  In  addition  to  his  other  weapons,  Luke  carried  a 
riding  whip,  with  a  short  lash,  on  the  end  of  which  was  an 
ounce  ball. 

It  was  growing  dark  as  our  traveler  reached  this  lonely- 
part  of  his  road.  The  wood  abounded  in  coverts  and  hiding- 
places  among  the  rocks,  and  Tories  and  robbers  were  known  to 
make  their  haunts  in  the  vicinity.  Just  as  he  reached  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  three  robbers  sprang  out  of  the  bushes,  the  foremost 
one  catching  his  horse  by  the  bridle.  Luke,  by  a  dexterous 
movement,  sank  the  ball  on  his  whip  deep  into  the  robber's- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  221 

temple  :  as  the  latter  released  his  hold  of  the  bridle  and  fell  to 
the  earth,  he  put  spurs  to  his  horse  and  escaped,  closely  fol 
lowed  by  several  shots,  sent  after  him  by  the  robbers.  The 
next  day  word  came  that  a  dead  Dhupp  was  found  lying  in  the 
road  near  Obey's  Folly.  He  was  brought  into  the  village,  and 
people  came  from  far  and  near  to  look  at  the  remains  of  a  man 
who  had  been  such  a  terror  to  the  neighborhood.  Notwith 
standing  his  misdeeds,  he  was  accorded  a  Christian  burial. 
Luke  Stoutenburgh  was  present  at  the  funeral ;  and  it  is  said 
that  he  pressed  the  bandage  back  from  the  robber's  head  so  as 
to  display  the  wound  on  the  temple,  as  if  to  satisfy  himself  of 
the  identity  of  the  body  before  him.  Another  Dhupp  was  said 
to  have  been  killed  between  Fishkill  Village  and  the  Landing ; 
while  a  third  died  some  time  afterward  in  the  alms-house  near 
Poughkeepsie.  .Such  was  the  end  of  this  notorious  robber 
family. 

Staatsburgh  is  a  small  village  and  station  on  the  Hudson 
River  Railroad,  some  six  miles  north  of  Hyde  Park.  A  hun 
dred  years  ago  the  whole  tract  of  country  north  of  Crom  Elbow 
Creek  was  known  as  Staatsburgh,  or  Stoutsburgh,  as  written  in 
old  records,  and  is  undoubtedly  a  corruption  or  abbreviation  of 
Stoutenburgh.  Near  Staatsburgh  are  the  residences  of  the 
Hoyts,  the  Lowndes,  and  the  Livingstons,  descendants  of  the 
old  Livingston  stock. 

The  first  mill  built  in  this  town  was  at  the  lower  landing, 
and  which  was  burned  down  some  thirty  years  ago.  There  is 
an  old  mill  near  East  Park,  built  by  the  Delamaters,  probably 
the  oldest  now  standing  in  the  town. 

East  of  Hyde  Park,  near  the  east  border  of  the  town,  is  a 
Quaker  church,  known  as  the  "  Crom  Elbow  Meeting  House." 
This  edifice  was  erected  about  the  year  1780.  It  has  been 
several  times  repaired,  and  somewhat  remodeled,  and  has, 
therefore,  lost  much  of  that  antiquated  appearance  generally 
noticeable  in  very  old  buildings.  Our  informant,  who,  though 
past  the  three  score  and  ten  years  allotted  to  man,  was  still 


222  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

vigorous  in  mind  and  body,  related  some  reminiscences  of  Elias 
Hicks,  founder  of  the  Hicksite  order  of  Friends. 

He  frequently  saw  Hicks,  and  heard  him  preach  in  the 
Crom  Elbow  Church.  He  spoke  of  him  as  a  tall,  spare  man. 
and  a  powerful  speaker.  He  was  present  at  a  meeting  in  this 
church,  in  which  Hicks  and  the  English  Friends  who  opposed 
him  took  part  in  the  controversy  which  caused  the  division  in 
that  Society  known  as  the  Separation. 

Attached  to  this  church  is  an  ancient  graveyard,  where  lies 
the  buried  dead  of  a  century  and  a  quarter.  Many  of  the 
mounds  have  no  stone  to  tell  the  name  of  the  one  whose  dust 
lies  beneath ;  whose  history  is  forgotten,  never  to  be  brought 
to  remembrance  until  the  resurrection.  Other  graves  are 
marked  with  rough  slabs  taken  from  the  field,  a  few  with  rude 
initials  chiseled  into  them,  but  more  of  them  "unlettered. 
Many  of  the  lettered  stones  are  moss-grown,  weather-worn, 
and  hardly  decipherable.  On  these  ancient  slabs  are  the  names 
of  the  Waeters,  the  Moshers,  the  Briggs,  Bakers,  Marshalls, 

OO     * 

Halsteds,  Willets,  Albertsons,  and  others,  family  names  of  the 
old  settlers  in  this  smiling  valley. 

A  Union  Church  was  built  at  an  early  date,  in  the  village 
of  Hyde  Park,  and  used  harmoniously  by  the  Episcopal  and 
Dutch  Reformed  societies.  It  was  known  as  the  Red  Church 
and  stood  a  little  south  of  the  present  Reformed  Church 
edifice.  The  Episcopal  Society  afterward  built  a  large  and 
elegant  house  of  worship  a  short  distance  north  of  the  village. 
They  also  have  erected  a  chapel  within  the  village  for  public 
worship.  The  following  statistics  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Society  of  this  place  have  been  kindly  furnished  by  the  present 
pastor,  Rev.  Henry  Dater  : 

"  The  records  of  the  early  history  of  this  church  are  imper 
fect,  and  for  a  part  of  the  time  I  find  no  records.  It  was 
organized,  or  divine  service  was  first  held,  in  1793.  I  do  not 
know  when  the  first  church  was  erected  ;  but  it  was  rebuilt  in 
1826.  Rev.  Cornelius  Brower  was  pastor  of  the  churches  of 
Poughkeepsie  and  "  Stoutsburgh"  from  1794  to  1812,  and 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  223 

supplied  the  church  of  Stoutsburgh  from  1812  to  1815.  This 
church  was  called  the  Church  of  Stoutsburgh  until  1817.  when 
it  was  called  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Hyde  Park. 
The  following  is  the  succession  of  pastors  over  the  church : — 
P.  S.  Wynkoop,  1817-22;  F.  H.  Vanderveer,  1823-29;  Ca- 
hoone,  1829-33;  S.  V.  Westfall,  1834-37;  J.  C.  Cruikshank, 
1837-43;  A.  Elmendorf,  1843-48;  Ten  Eyck,  1848-53; 
Henry  Dater  in  1853,  and  is  the  present  pastor." 

At  Staatsburgh  is  an  Episcopal  house  of  worship ;  north 
east  of  that  is  a  Catholic  Church.  In  Hyde  Park  village,  in 
addition  to  the  church  edifice  already  mentioned,  there  is  a 
Roman  Catholic,  a  Baptist,  and  a  M.  E.  Church. 

We  have  previously  had  occasion  to  remark  that  Jacobus 
Stoutenburgh  was  a  large  landholder.  A  further  mention  of 
him  and  his  descendants  will  not  be  out  of  place,  as  he  figured 
conspicuously  in  the  early  history  of  this  county,  quite  as 
much  so,  perhaps,  as  some  others  who  have  been  accorded  a 
fuller  historic  mention.  Some  years  since,  so  the  writer  was 
informed,  as  a  member  of  the  Stoutenburgh  family  was  travel 
ing  in  the  town  of  Clinton,  he  was  addressed  by  a  very  old 
man,  who  made  particular  mention  of  a  certain  tract  of  land 
known  as  the  "  Gore,"  situated  in  the  north  part  of  the  county, 
the  deed  covering  which  was  given  by  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh 
to  his  eight  children.  The  old  gentleman  asserted  that  the 
deed  was  at  that  time  in  existence  somewhere  near  Rhinebeck, 
and  which  if  found  might  eventually  make  trouble.  He  said 
his  father  was  a  '"squatter"  on  this  tract,  and  never  received 
an}'  title  from  the  original  owner. 

This  circumstance  caused  a  search  to  be  instituted,  which 
was  rewarded  by  the  finding  of  the  identical  instrument  in 
question.  It  proved  to  be  a  full  warrantee  deed,  covering  a 
gore-shaped  section,  having  its  point  at  the  Hudson  River,  and 
its  base,  some  miles  in  length,  adjoining  the  west  Oblong  line, 
comprising  an  area  of  thousands  of  acres.  It  was  recorded 
at  Albany,  and  the  title  is  said  to  be  yet  good.  The  deed 
mentions  all  the  children  of  Jacobus  by  name  ;  and  as  neither 


224  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

they  nor  their  heirs  have  ever  disposed  of  any  of  their  rights 
under  the  instrument,  those  holding  the  land  included  in  this 
tract  have  very  doubtful  title.  Much  of  it  is  improved,  and  is 
now  very  valuable,  with  buildings  erected  thereon.  All  the 
deeds  given  covering  farms  on  the  section  in  question  are 
quit-claims.  Whether  the  heirs  of  this  land  will  ever  under 
take  to  get  possession,  remains  to  be  seen. 

In  addition  to  this  the  Stoutenburgh  family  are  heirs  to  the 
Trinity  church  property.  Jacobus  married  Margaret  Teller,  a 
direct  descendant  of  Anneke  Jans.  The  marriage*  took  place 
in  New  York  city,  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  country. 

Some  years  since  as  some  of  the  family  were  searching  the 
county  records,  they  found  quit-claim  deeds  of  no  less  than 
seventy-seven  farms  lying  between  Rhinebeck  and  Poughkeep- 
sie,  the  titles  of  which  are  derived  from  Jacobus  Stoutenburgh. 
He  is  also  spoken  of  as  one  of  the  first  Judges  of  DUCHESS 
County. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  Lossing's  "  Hudson,  from 
its  Source  to  the  Sea  :"  "  Placentia,  a  delightful  country  seat 
about  a  mile  north  of  Hyde  Park,  was  the  residence  of  the 
lamented  James  Kirk  Paulding.  With  it  is  connected  no 
history  of  special  interest.  It  is  consecrated  in  the  memory 
as  the  residence  of  a  novelist  and  poet — the  friend  and  associ 
ate  of  Washington  Irving  in  his  literary  career.  Paulding  and 
Irving  were  intimate  friends  for  more  than  fifty  years.  Pauld 
ing  lived  in  elegant  retirement  for  many  years  at  his  country 
seat,  enjoying  books,  pictures,  and  the  society  of  friends.  He 
passed  away  at  the  beginning  of  1860,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
more  than  four  score  years. 

"  Hyde  Park  is  situated  upon  a  pleasant  plain,  high  above 
the  river,  and  about  half  a  mile  from  it.  The  village  received 
its  name  from  Paul  Faulconier,  private  secretary  to  Edward 
Hyde,  (afterward  Lord  Cornbury,)  Governor  of  the  Province 
of  New  York  at  the  beginning  of  the  last  century.  Faulconier 


*  The  writer  was  shown  portraits  of  Jacobus   Stoutenburgh.   and  wife,  as   they 
appeared  in  thair  wedding  dress,  which  are  now  in  possession  of  the  family. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  225 

purchased  a  large  tract  at  this  place,  and  named  it  in  honor  of 
the  Governor. 

"  At  Hyde  Park  the  river  makes  a  sudden  bend  between 
rocky  bluffs,  and  in  a  narrow  channel.  On  account  of  this- 
the  Dutch  called  the  place  Krom  E!leboge,  crooked  elbow. 
The  present  name  is  a  compound  of  Dutch  and  English — Crom 
Elbow." 


LA    GRANGE. 


POPULATION,     1,775- — SQUARE  ACRES,   25,682, 


•A  GRANGE  was  formed  from  Beekman  and  Fishkill  as 
"Freedom"  February  9!?,  1821.  Apart  of  Union  Vale 
was  taken  off  in  1827.  The  following  year  the  name 
was  changed  to  La  Grange — "  the  barn" — the  name  of 
Marquis  de  La  Fayette's  residence  in  France,  that  gentleman 
having  lately  visited  the  United  States,  Its  surface  is  a  rolling 
and  moderately  hilly  upland,  the  soil  is  a  gravelly  loam.  Sprout 
Creek  is  the  principal  stream,  flowing  south  through  near  the 
center.  Wappingers  Creek*  forms  the  west  boundary.  Free 
dom  Plains,  La  Grangeville,  Titusville,  Sprout  Creek, 
Arthursburgh,  and  Manchester  Bridge,  the  latter  lying  mostly 
in  Poughkeepsie,  are  hamlets. 

The  Nelsons,  Sleights,  DeGroffs  and  Cornells  settled  in 
the  western  part  of  the  town.  Reuben  Nelson,  Jr.,  first  kept 
hotel  at  Manchester.  The  old  house  here  was  of  stone,  and 
stood  a  short  distance  southwest  of  the  present  one.  Moses 
DeGroff  owned  the  mill  at  this  place. 


*  In  Fohruarv,  1807.  heavy  frcsliots  prevailed  all  over  the  State.  Almost  every  hridpe 
.over  Wappiii^ers  Creek  was  either  swept  away  or  materially  injured.  A  number  of  mill* 
•tAiid  mill-dams  on  the  creek  were  badly  damaged. 

226 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  227 

In  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  is  situated  the  district 
formerly  known  as  "  Jonah's  Manor."  Stephen  Jonah  was  a 
-Schaghticoke  Indian,  who  lorded  it  over  this  region  years  ago. 
It  is  a  wild,  hilly  country,  hardly  adapted  to  cultivation.  Here 
he  lived  until  a  ripe  old  age,  in  undisputed  possession  of  his 
native  domain.  He  resided  in  a  little  rude  cabin  in  the  woods, 
and  subsisted  partly  by  the  chase,  and  partly  by  cultivating  a 
-small  patch  of  ground  cleared  for  the  purpose.  His  sister 
Hannah  is,  we  believe,  still  living  in  the  town,  in  the  family  of 
one  Skidmore.  It  is  said  she  can  cure  the  bite  of  a  chunk- 
head,  almost  instantly.  Nothing,  however,  can  tempt  her  to 
disclose  the  remedy. 

Joseph  Weeks  settled  at  an  early  date  near  La  Grangeville. 
North  of  him  were  the  Vermilyes.  Isaac  Clapp,  father  of 
Jesse,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  locating  below  La  Grange- 
-ville.  Jesse  Clapp  lived  here  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution. 
Israel  Shear  and  Derrick  Swade  settled  southwest  of  La  Grange 
ville.  North  of  Shear  was  Elijah  Townsend.  Joseph  Potter 
came  in  about  the  year  1812.  Enoch  and  Samuel  Borland 
.settled  near  Arthursburgh  about  1820.  Thomas  Andrews  and 
Jonathan  Lockwood  located  here  quite  early.  Richard 
Jackson  entered  upon  the  tract  now  known  as  the  Jackson 
Flats ;  he  was  ancestor  of  the  present  Jackson  families. 
William  Wolven  and  William  Pearsol  took  up  their  residence 
near  Freedom  Plains.  John  Aoret  will  be  remembered  as  an 
eccentric  Dutch  shoemaker.  J.  C.  Cohvell  came  in  here  in 
,1827  ;  he  is  the  only  one  living  in  this  vicinity  that  was  here 
at  that  time. 

The  old  village  is  about  half  a  mile  east  of  the  railroad 
depot,  and  was  formerly  known  as  Moreys  Corners.  At  this 
place,  sixty  years  ago,  was  a  carding  machine,  and  fulling  mill. 
The  building  is  now  used  as  a  distillery.  This  structure  could 
tell  of  revelry  and  bacchanalian  riotings,  it  being  the  practice 
in  early  times  for  the  customers  to  bring  their  toddy  with 
them,  and  drink  one  another's  health  while  waiting  for  their 


228  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

work.     The   lower    mill    was  built    by  Jesse  Clapp  over    fifty 
years  ago. 

John   Billings  was  an  old  auctioneer  who  lived  north  of  La 
Grangeville.     He  was  an  influential  man,  with  sterling  business 
qualities.      He   was   by  trade   a  tan-currier,  and   kept  a  shoe- ' 
maker's  shop. 

Elder  Pevey,  of  the  Christian  denomination,  used  to 
preach  in  this  and  adjoining  towns  to  great  crowds  of  people. 
One  Miller,  a  Baptist,  was  led  to  embrace  the  doctrine  of  the 
Peveyites,  as  they  were  then  called.  Miller  had  a  daughter, 
traditionally  beautiful  as  the  houri ;  she  was  wooed  and  won 
by  Pevey.  A  revival  was  the  result  of  his  preaching,  and 
many  in  the  country  round  about  were  converted.  He  baptised 
a  large  number  of  candidates  in  Johnson's  Pond,  now  Sylvan 
Lake. 

Sixty  years  ago,  an  old  man  lived  on  Freedom  Plainsr 
named  William  Petitt.  On  the  same  place  afterward  lived  a 
Quaker,  named  John  Palmer,  whose  son  joined  the  Shakers. 

Fifty  years  ago,  and  before  the  railroads  were  constructed 
in  the  vicinity,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  of  a  morning  to  see 
twenty  heavy  loads  of  pork,  and  as  many  of  grain,  all  going  to 
Poughkeepsie,  then  the  great  mart  of  this  section.  Now  the 
products  taken  there  consist  principally  of  hoop-poles  and 
straw. 

The  first  church  near  La  Grangeville  was  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Potters  Corners.  The  site  of  the  edifice  was  neat 
the  old  burying  ground.  It  was  taken  down  and  a  new  one 
built  where  it  now  stands,  called  the  Trinity  Church  of  La 
Grange.  This  and  the  Ebenezer  Church  at  the  Clove,  consti 
tute  one  charge. 

Near  the  northeast  part  of  the  town  is  a  railroad  station  and 
post-office  known  as  Moores  Mills.  Here  is  an  old  mill,  built 
by  the  family  of  Moores,  doubtless  one  of  the  first  in  this  sec 
tion  of  the  country — judging  from  its  appearance,  and  the  best 
information  that  could  be  gathered  touching  its  history — after 
which  the  place  is  named. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2 29 

A  woolen  factory  was  established  on  Wappingers  Creek 
about  the  year  1828,  known  as  the  Titus  Factory. 

The  first  religious  society  formed  in  the  town  was-  that  of 
the  Friends,  which  was  organized  toward  the  close  of  the  last 
century.  Their  place  of  worship  was  located  at  Arthursburgh. 
It  was  a  plain,  square  building,  with  no  porch,  and  stood  on 
the  site  of  the  present  one.  The  Presbyterian  Church 
.at  Freedom  Plains,  was  erected  some  sixty  years  ago. 


Moore's  Mill— rear  view. 

Near  the  Verbank  road,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town, 
is  a  dense  swamp,  in  the  middle  of  which  is  a  rising  knoll  of 
about  half  an  acre  in  extent.  This  island,  as  it  is  called,  has 
a  historic  interest  that  is  worthy  of  mention. 

In  Revolutionary  times  the  business  of  horse  stealing  was 
extensively  practiced  in  this  locality,  its  proximity  to  British 
lines  rendering  it  an  easy  matter  to  dispose  of  the  booty.  The 
swamp  island  was  used  as  a  rendezvous  to  which  the  stolen 
property  was  temporarily  conveyed  until  a  convenient  oppor 
tunity  arrived  to  run  the  animals  within  the  enemy's  line.  The 
rendezvous  was  discovered  by  some  Whigs,  who  determined  to 
keep  a  watch  over  the  movements  of  the  Tories,  and  at  the 
opportune  moment  to  swoop  down  upon  them,  and  capture 
the  marauders  and  their  stolen  animals,  at  one  blow.  Shortly 
after,  a  number  of  horses  were  taken  from  the  farmers  in  the 
vicinity,  and  were  reported  to  be  secreted  in  the  swamp. 
Accordingly  a  company  was  organized  and  equipped,  and 
preparations  made  for  an  attack  on  the  Tory  camp.  The 


230  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

night  was  dark,  and  the  thickets  of  the  swamp  almost  inter 
minable.  The  Tories  were  known  to  be  well  armed,  and 
many  of  them  desperate  characters  ;  and  withal  were  believed 
to  outnumber  the  attacking  party.  Notwithstanding  these 
disadvantages,  the  latter  entered  boldly  upon  the  expedition, 
while  their  wives  and  children  listened  eagerly  to  hear  the  rifle 
shots  which  would  tell  them  the  affray  had  commenced,  in 
which  some  husbands  and  fathers  would  most  likely  fall. 

It  was  their  intention  to  take  the  camp  by  surprise.  They 
therefore  crept  with  cat-like  tread,  in  the  direction  of  the 
island.  Before  they  reached  it,  however,  yet  while  they  could 
get  occasional  glimpses  of  the  camp  fires  of  the  enemy,  a  low 
whistle  was  heard,  doubtless  the  signal  of  a  Tory  sentinel  to 
his  comrades  that  danger  was  approaching  through  the  gloom  of 
the  swamp.  On  arriving  at  the  island,  it  was  found  deserted 
by  man  and  beast,  who  left  their  camp  fires  brightly  burning.. 
The  Tories  had  been  alarmed  in  time,  and  beat  a  hasty  retreat, 
carrying  off  their  booty  with  them  in  their  flight.  Had  the 
attacking  party  divided  into  three  or  four  detachments,  and 
approached  the  rendezvous  by  as  many  different  routes,  the 
capture  of  the  entire  camp  might  have  been  effected. 

Some  time  afterward,  this  vicinity  was  the  theatre  of  the 
maraudings  of  a  noted  horse-thief — name  withheld — who  en 
tered  into  the  business  on  his  own  account.  He  was  a  resi 
dent  of  the  town  and  plied  his  nefarious  business  for  a  time 
unsuspected.  At  length  circumstances  pointed  to  him  as  an 
agent  in  the  spiriting  away  of  the  horses  of  the  neighborhood. 

One  Mr.  Clapp  had  a  fine  animal,  on  which  he  placed  greet 
value.  One  night  he  was  awakened  by  the  loud  barking  of 
the  watch  dog,  and  imagined  that  he  heard  a  noise  at  the  barn. 
He  went  to  the  window  and  listened,  but  nothing  unusual  ap 
pearing,  he  returned  to  bed,  under  the  impression  that  some 
wild  animal  might  have  been  prowling  about  and  disturbed  his 
cattle,  a  thing  not  unfrequent  in  those  early  times.  The  next 
morning  his  favorite  horse  was  gone,  having  been  taken  during., 
the  night.  On  inquiry  it  was  found  that  his  suspected  neigh- 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  23! 

bor  had  left  his  home  suddenly  the  same  night.  He  appeared 
at  home  again  in  the  course  of  a  day  or  two,  and  was  observed 
to  have  plenty  of  money.  This  served  to  lead  people  to  be 
suspicious  of  him  ;  but  his  guilt  was  not  fairly  shown  until  the 
following  year  when  the  horse  was  recovered  in  Canada,  and 
the  name  of  the  thief  was  revealed.  He  was  soon  forced  to 
flee  the  country. 

A  dwelling  near  Sprout  Creek  was.  in  the  days  of  witchcraft,, 
pointed  out  as  the  abode  of  a  witch.  It  was  said  she  could 
walk  along  the  ceiling  of  a  room  as  readily  as  she  could  tread, 
the  floor;  and  at  times  her  spinning  wheel  and  other  articles  of 
furniture  would  skip  about  the  room  without  any  visible  agency 
So  great  was  the  notoriety  of  this  woman,  that  people  from  far 
and  near  used  to  visit  the  house  that  they  might  witness  these 
strange  doings.  One  gentleman  in  particular,  who  had  ex 
pressed  great  incredulity,  while  seated  in  her  chair,  was  seized 
by  some  invisible  means,  raised  bodily  from  the  floor  and  set 
down  in  another  part  of  the  room.  Once  upon  a  time,  some 
travelers  were  passing  near,  when,  all  of  a  sudden,  their  horses 
stopped  short  and  refused  to  proceed  further.  They  appeared 
to  be  alarmed  at  some  object  in  the  road.  The  night  was 
dark,  and  one  of  the  men  got  out  to  make  a  closer  examination 
of  the  nature  of  the  obstruction,  when  he  saw  a  little  black 
lamb  standing  there.  He  struck  it  with  his  whip,  cutting  a 
gash  on  its  right  ear,  whereupon  it  vanished.  '  That  same 
night  the  old  witch's  right  ear  commenced  to  bleed,  on  which 
was  found  the  marks  of  a  whip.  Sometimes  the  good  house 
wives  of  the  neighborhood  would  be  bothered  with  their 
churning ;  although  the  cream  was  of  the  proper  consistency 
and  the  temperature  exactly  at  the  right  point,  "  the  butter 
would  not  come."  As  a  last  resort  they  would  throw  a  red  hot 
horse  shoe  into  the  churn,  when  the  trouble  would  all  be  over. 
As  certain  as  this  was  done,  the  old  witch,  though  living  at 
some  distance,  would  set  up  a  howling,  and  the  print  of  a 
horse  shoe  would  invariably  be  found  upon  her  arm,  as 
though  burned  into  the  flesh.  This  old  beldame  was  believed 


2;3'2  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

by  the  unsophiscated  people  of  the  neighborhood  to  be  the 
cause  of  all  their  misfortunes  or  ill-luck  ;  and  it  was  a  relief  to 
their  perplexed  minds  when  she  finally  left  the  country.  This 
belief  in  witchcraft,  once  so  prevalent  even  in  the  more  learned 
walks  of  life,  against  which  wise  legislators  used  to  enact  laws, 
is  now  fast  disappearing  before  the  superior  enlightment  of  the 
age.  The  supernatural  events  said  to  have  resulted  from  this 
agency  are  now  to  be  met  with  only  in  the  traditions  of  some 
rural  neighborhood,  and  serve  to  entertain  the  group  around 
the  winter's  fireside. 

In  the  east  borders  of  the  town  lived  an  old  Tory,  who 
sympathized  heartily  with  the  cause  of  Great  Britain,  and  who 
was  several  times  caught  harboring  the  enemies  of  his  country, 
and  in  other  ways  assisting  them.  The  people  finally  became 
exasperated,  and  caught  the  old  Tory,  tied  him  to  a  post,  and 
gave  him  a  sound  whipping,  such  as  doubtless  had  a  tendency 
to  cure  him  of  his  Toryism,  or  at  any  rate  to  persuade  him  to 
be  more  cautious  in  his  movements. 

A  little  below  La  Grangeville,  on  the  Jesse  Clapp  farm,  is 
a  Revolutionary  building.  Near  by  is  a  field,  still  known  as 
"  the  cam])  lot,"  on  which  tradition  says  some  British  soldiers 
once  encamped.  These,  perhaps,  were  a  portion  of  Burgoyne's 
captive  army,  as  history  mentions  their  passing  through  this 
vicinity,  while  enfoute  for  Fishkill.  Their  route  was  north  of 
the  American  cantonments.  They  entered  our  county  at 
Amenia,  passed  through  Verbank,  Arthursburgh  and  Hopewell, 
reaching  the  Hudson  at  Fishkill  Landing,  where  they  crossed 
over  to  Newburgh. 

An  incident  is  related  that  occurred  at  the  old  tavern  stand 
at  Sprout  Creek.  A  gentleman  from  Pawling,  named  William 

Taber,  was  on  his  way  to 
Poughkeepsie  with  a  load  of 
grain.  He  had  occasion  to 
stop  at  this  tavern,  leaving  his 
horses  hitched  to  a  post  near 
oid  iiotoi  s-.aiui  at  sprout  crook.  ^  While  there,  information 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  233 

was  brought  to  him  that  a  noted  bully  was  frightening  his 
horses,  and  there  was  danger  of  their  breaking  away.  Mr. 
Tabor  went  out  and  remonstrated  with  the  fellow.  Whether 
the  remonstrance  was  couched  in  gentle  terms,  or  otherwise,  is 
not  stated  ;  but  the  bully  professed  to  be  highly  incensed  at 
the  interference,  and  proceeded  at  once  to  the  task  of  giving 
Mr.  T.  a  flogging.  The  latter  though  not  a  fighter  by  profession, 
was  nevertheless  endowed  with  considerable  pluck  and  muscle, 
and  it  was  soon  evident  he  was  more  than  a  match  for  his 
assailant.  The  result  was,  the  bully  received  such  a  sound 
beating  that  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  for  weeks.  It  led  to 
his  conversion  however,  and  he  afterwards  became  an  active 
Methodist  preacher.  He  used  to  relate,  in  the  pulpit,  how 
religion  was  fairly  beaten  into  him  in  a  fist-fight  at  Sprout 
Creek. 

Before  the  division  of  the  town  of  Beekman,  town  meetings 
were  held  in  a  private  house  yet  standing  at  Potter's  Corners. 
Some  sixty  years  ago  Samuel  A.  Barker  lived  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Davis.  He  was  an  intelligent  man,  a  Justice  of  the 
Peace,  and  lived  to  a  great  age.  Before  his  death,  he  became 
very  childish.  On  his  farm  was  a  field  of  thirty  acres,  covered 
with  daisies.  One  of  his  notions  was  to  go  into  this  field  with 
a  hired  man,  and  dig  up  the  daisies  with  a  knife. 

John  Clapp  lived  near  Freedom  Plains  Presbyterian  church. 
He  kept  the  to-.vn  poor,  which  were  then  put  up  at  auction,  the 
lowest  b:d  ler  to  take  care  of  them. 

James  Sleight  was  an  early  resident  of  this  town  and  set 
tled  near  Manchester  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  son, 
Joseph  Sleight.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolution,  served 
through  three  campaigns,  and  took  part  in  several  of  the  battles 
of  that  struggle.  He  was  stationed  at  New  Windsor  when 
Vaughan  passed  up  the  Hudson.  A  detachment  of  Americans, 
of  which  he  was  one,  marched  up  inland,  following  up  Vaughan 
as  he  sailed  up  the  stream.  They  came  in  sight  of  Kingston 
just  as  that  village  of  4000  inhabitants  was  lighted  by  the 
British  incendiary  torch.  Many  of  his  relatives,  the  Sleights, 


234  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

were  living  here  ;  he  saw  his  uncles,  aunts,  and  cousins,  fleeing 
for  their  lives,  with  such  household  goods  as  they  could  readily 
ren  o -e,  while  the  bulk  of  their  property,  their  houses  and 
barns,  were  perishing  before  the  devouring  element.  This 
scene  he  used  to  describe  as  the  most  trying  one  he  witnessed 
during  the  war. 

We  cannot  forbear  mentioning  another  incident  connected 
with  his  Revolutionary  experience  : — At  the  battle  of  White 
Plains,  a  regiment  of  raw  militia  were  drawn  up  in  a  narrow 
valley.  Before  them  was  a  low  hill,  along  the  top  of  which  a 
rail  fence  extended,  parallel  to  their  front.  At  the  foot  of  the 
hill,  on  the  opposite  side,  lay  a  British  regiment.  Thus  the 
two  regiments  were  close  upon  each  other,  with  the  hill  inter 
vening,  both  awaiting  the  turn  of  events.  A  British  officer 
crept  up  the  hill  to  the  fence,  from  whence  he  reconnoitred  the 
position  of  the  Americans.  A  Yankee  soldier  descried  the 
officer,  and  disregarding  the  standing  order  not  to  fire  until  the 
command  was  given,  blazed  away  at  the  tempting  mark.  The 
raw  militiamen,  thinking  this  a  signal  for  opening  fire,  dis 
charged  their  pieces,  without  any  definite  idea  of  what  they 
were  firing  at,  and  all  retreated  to  the  cover  of  their  breast 
works  a  short  distance  in  the  rear.  The  enemy  immediately 
ran  to  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  poured  a  volley  at  do.-e  range  at 
the  retreating  militia.  Fortunately  the  aim  of  the  British  was 
too  high,  and  the  bullets  passed  for  the  most  part,  harmlessly 
over  the  heads  of  the  Americans.  Only  one  man  of  the  latter 
was  injured.  He  was  so  far  in  advance  of  the  main  body  as  to 
be  directly  in  range,  and  was  fairly  riddled  with  balls.  His 
haste  to  reach  a  place  of  security  resulted  in  his  death.  The 
remainder  of  the  force  reached  their  works  in  safety;  and  the 
British,  not  caring  to  attack  them  at  a  disadvantage,  did  not 
pursue. 

During  this  engagement  the  enemy  sent  a  squad  of  men 
with  a  field  piece  to  the  right  of  the  Americans,  with  the  view 
of  flanking  their  intrenchments.  Their  design  was  discovered, 
anil  a  plan  devised  to  outwit  them.  The  Americans  chose  a 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  235 

small  brass  piece,  the  heaviest  they  had,  loaded  it  with  grape, 
and  placed  it  in  position  to  rake  the  precise  spot  the  enemy 
were  to  plant  their  cannon,  covering  their  movements  with 
bodies  of  soldiers  stationed  irregularly  about.  When  the 
British  arrived  at  their  destination,  and  had  unlimbered  their 
gun,  preparatory  to  loading,  the  Americans  separated  from 
before  their  own  gun,  the  fuse  was  lighted,  and  the  deadly 
grape  was  poured  directly  into  the  British  squad.  The  survi 
vors  gathered  up  their  dead  and  wounded,  and  with  their  field 
piece  made  off  as  quickly  as  possible. 

James  Sleight  was  once  with  a  party  sent  out  to  capture  a 
deserter,  who  was  known  to  be  secreted  in  a  house  in  the  town  of 
La  Grange.  They  waited  until  nightfall,  and  then  surrounded  the 
house  ;  leaving  a  guard  at  the  front  door,  one  or  two  passed 
around  to  the  back  of  the  house  ;  they  were  too  late  however, 
as  the  deserter  was  then  making  the  best  of  his  way  across  a 
field  a  short  distance  off.  He  was  commanded  to  stop,  but 
refused  to  obey ;  a  shot  sent  after  him  striking  near  him  served 
only  to  quicken  his  pace.  He  succeeded  into  escaping  into 
the  adjoining  woods,  where  he  could  successfully  elude  his 
pursuers. 

In  1821,  a  terrible  hail-storm  passed  over  this  immediate 
section  of  Manchester.  The  storm  took  a  southeast  course, 
covering  a  tract  of  country  about  half  a  mile  in  width,  carrying 
destruction  in  its  course.  It  occurred  on  Sunday  afternoon. 
The  stones  were  so  large  that  they  broke  the  window  sash  in 
several  dwellings,  and  it  is  said  they  even  went  through  the 
roof  of  Mr.  Cornell's  house. 


MILAN. 


POPULATION,  1,453- SQUARE  ACRES,  23,420. 


XHfTVILAN  was  formed  from  Northeast,  March  loth,  1818. 
(1  I- 1  ^  comPrises  the  western  portion  of  that  tract  of  land 
*§§5??  originally  owned  by  the  Little  or  Upper  Nine  Partners. 

1(O£  Why  it  bears  the  name  of  an  ancient  city  we  cannot 
tell.  Its  surface  is  a  hilly  upland,  broken  by  the  deep  valleys 
of  the  streams,  Roeliff  Jansens  Kill  crosses  the  northeast 
corner.  Jacksons  Corners  is  a  post  village  situated  on  this 
stream.  Rock  City — so  named  from  the  rocks  which  crop 
out  in  the  adjacent  hills  and  along  the  streams — lies  near  the 
Rhinebeck  line.  Here  are  two  saw  mills,  and  a  grist  mill. 
Milan vi lie  and  Lafayetteville  are  post  villages  near  the  center 
of  the  town.  There  are  two  small  bodies  of  water  in  the  south 
west  part  of  the  town,  each  of  which  is  called  Mud  Pond. 

In  1760,  Johannes  Rowe  bought  of  Robert  Livingston, 
nine  hundred  acres  north  of  Lafayetteville,  and  located  upon 
it.  Much  of  it  is  still  in  possession  of  the  Rowe  family. 
Maltiah  and  Macey  Bowman  settled  at  Lafayetteville.  One 
of  the  first  substantial  houses  put  up  here  is  still  standing,  and 
was  occupied  by  the  firm  of  Bullock  and  Bowman  as  a  store. 

•       236 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  237 

When  the  Bowmans  came,  the  country  was  all  woods  in 
which  wild  beasts  and  wild  Indians  roamed.  John  White  and 
Jeptha  Wilbur  located  near  by ;  the  latter  built  a  grist-mill 
about  a  mile  northeast  of  Lafayetteville.  Timothy  Briggs 
entered  upon  a.  section  north  'of  Wilbur.  John  Pells  settled  a 
short  distance  below  Jackson's  Corners.  Near  the  east  line  of 
the  town  were  John  Hicks,  Robert  Martin  and  Joe  Mott,  old 
settlers,  who  braved  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness  in  their 
efforts  to  provide  themselves  a  home.  John  Link,  Garrett 
Holsopple,  Jacob  Rhyfenburgh,  Jacob  Killman,  John  Fulton, 
John  Stalls,  John  Feller,  John  Hopeman,  Zachariah  Phillips, 
Alexander  Teats  and  Andrew  Frazier  were  old  settlers  in  the 
north  part  of  the  town.  They  were  mostly  Germans.  The 
last  two  named  lived  to  be  one  hundred  years  old. 

Near  Jacksons  Corners  was  once  a  cluster  of  log  huts, 
known  as  "  Straw  Hudson."  The  huts  were  thatched  with 

straw,  which  gave  rise  to 
the  name.  The  interstices 
between  the  logs  compos 
ing  the  houses  were  plaster 
ed  with  clay.  Apertures 
were  left  to  let  in  the  light, 
and  for  want  of  glass,  a 

GUI  wLbur  Mill.  little  oiled  cloth  was  substi 

tuted.  The  fire-places  were  large  enough  to  hold  a  load  of 
wood  of  moderate  size.  The  lower  part  of  the  chimneys  were 
built  of  stone,  laid  in  clay  ;  the  upper  portions  were  generally 
made  of  wood.  The  coals  were  drawn  out  upon  the  hearth, 
in  which  their  potatoes  were  roasted,  and  before  which  their 
johnny-cake — that  staple  of  the  early  culinary  department — 
was  baked,  on  a  board.  At  that  time  it  was  no  uncommon 
thing  to  see  the  children  at  play  barefoot  on  the  ice. 

The  old  couple  from  whom  the  writer  obtained  these 
particulars  were  firm  believers  in  witches  and  ghosts.  Near 
this  place,  in  former  times,  was  a  haunted  house.  In  one  of 
the  chambers  a  couple  of  lads  went  to  bed  one  cold  Decem- 


238  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

ber  night,  and  just  as  they  had  comfortably  settled  themselves 
for  a  good  nap,  they  were  disturbed  by  the  presence  of  some 
thing  hovering  over  them  in  the  darkness.  Pretty  soon  the 
apparition  grasped  the  blankets  covering  them,  hauling  them 
upon  the  floor.  The  act  was  accompanied  by  a  noise  resemb 
ling  that  of  a  brass  kettle  rolling  upon  a  hard  surface.  As  soon 
as  the  boys  could  muster  courage  they  recovered  their  blankets, 
and  again  betook  themselves  to  sleep.  But  again  the  appari 
tion  returned,  with  the  same  result  as  before.  This  was 
repeated  at  intervals  during  the  whole  night,  which  so  bothered 
the  boys  that  not  a  wink  of  sleep  did  they  get  before  morning. 

They  also  mentioned  a  witch,  who  flourished  in  the  "  good 
old  times  of  yore."  A  friend  went  on  a  visit  to  her  house  one 
evening,  taking  with  her  a  little  child.  The  witch  asked  leave 
to  take  the  child  in  her  lap,  to  which  the  mother  consented. 
Presently  the  babe  began  to  cry.  Nothing  would  avail  to  in 
duce  it  to  stop,  and  the  mother  was  forced  to  return  home. 
The  child  continued  to  cry  during  the  whole  night,  at  times 
violently ;  but  the  next  morning  it  fell  into  a  gentle  slumber. 
It  was  thought  that  the  witch  had  wrought  a  spell  over  the 
child  which  caused  its  fit  of  crying.  This  witch  afterward  fell 
into  a  quarrel  at  the  dinner  table  with  her  spouse  ;  his  ire  was 
aroused  to  such  a  pitch  that  he  threw  a  knife  which,  entering 
a  vital  part,  put  a  period  to  her  existence.  He  then  threw  her 
upon  the  fire,  where  she  was  burned  to  a  crisp.  Her  end  was 
a  source  of  much  rejoicing  to  the  good  people  of  the  vicinity. 

But  if  the  old  settlers  were  troubled  with  witches,  a  means 
was  provided  whereby  their  evil  machinations  might  be  effec 
tually  avoided.  This  was  by  employing  what  were  then  de 
nominated  "  witch  doctors,"  who  were  reputed  tc  have  great 
skill  in  such  matters.  Their  remedies  did  not  consist  of 
useless  drugs,  or  in  prescribing  unwholesome  courses  of  diet, 
which  constitute  the  practice  of  other  classes  of  physicians,  but 
in  the  more  reasonable  and  efficacious  observance  of  certain 
rules,  which  the  witch  doctor  would  prescribe.  Sometimes 
under  his  direction  the  witch's  designs  might  be  circumvented 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  239 

by  strictly  refusing  to  lend  anything  out  of  the  house  for  a  cer 
tain  number  of  days.  Sometimes  the  same  desirable  results 
could  be  brought  about  by  repeating  certain  talismanic  words, 
or  by  nailing  a  horseshoe  to  a  specified  part  of  the  house. 
Some  of  these  doctors  are  said  to  have  acquired  great  wealth 
and  notoriety  in  the  practice  of  their  profession. 

A  society  of  Methodists  was  formed  in  this  town  about  the 
year  1790.  Their  house  of  worship  was  situated  near  the 
present  M.  E.  Church,  not  far  from  Milanville.  It  was  a  large 
square  building,  two  stories  high,  and  was  never  painted.  A 
Quaker  meeting  house,  built  about  the  same  time  or  previous, 
stood  near  it.  This  was  said  to  have  had  high  posts  and  a 
short  roof  in  front,  with  a  long  roof  in  the  rear,  extending 
nearly  to  the  ground.  It  is  asserted  that  Robert  Thorn,  a 
.staunch  old  Quaker,  used  to  go  to  this  old  church,  with  no  com 
panion  but  his  dog, 
and  sit  during  the 
stated  hours  of  wor 
ship.  This  was  after 


the  congregation  had 
been  almost  depleted 
by  deaths  and  remov 
als.  A  second  church 

"  Lafayette  House."  was  buj}t  near  t]ie  site 

of  this,  but  both  structures  have  been  removed.  There  are 
two  M.  E.  Churches  and  a  Christian  Church  in  the  town,  in 
-addition  to  those  already  mentioned. 

Robert  Thorn  built  a  mill  about  two  miles  west  of  Lafa- 
'yetteville,  which  is  perhaps  the  oldest  in  town.  Buck's  mill, 
in  the  southeast  part,  is  an  old  established  concern. 

The  Lafayette  House,  situated  in  Lafayetteville,  was  built 
about  the  time  of  the  visit  of  the  Marquis  Lafayette  to  this 
country,  after  whom  it  was  named.  This  was  an  important 
place  of  business  before  the  railroads  were  constructed  in  this 
vicinity,  it  being  on  the  thoroughfare  leading  from  Millerton, 
-Ancram,  and  other  points  to  the  river. 


240  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

Jacob  Stall  was  at  one  time  an  extensive  real  estate  owner 
in  the  vicinity  of  Jacksons  Corners,  to  whom  the  place  owes 
much  of  its  growth  and  prosperity.  A  considerable  portion  of 
this  and  the  adjoining  town  of  Pine  Plains  is  held  by  leasehold 
tenure,  which  has  exerted  an  influence  detrimental  to  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  the  towns. 

Previous  to  the  Revolution,  Lieutenant-Governor  Clark 
acquired  title  to  large  tracts  of  land  in  this  vicinity.  At  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Crown, 
and  soon  afterward  embarked  for  England.  His  son  came 
over  and  assumed  control  of  the  property,  and  professed  to  be 
a  Whig.  At  the  close  of  that  struggle,  the  Colonists  having 
been  victorious,  this  son  claimed  the  land,  and  was  allowed  to 
retain  possession,  On  making  his  will  he  saw  fit  to  dispose  of 
much  of  the  land  in  such  a  way  that  his  heirs  have  not  yet 
been  able  to  give  a  clear  title.  It  has  therefore  been  mainly 
occupied  by  persons  holding  leases,  sometimes  for  life,  but 
more  generally  for  periods  of  but  one  year.  Of  cour-se  a  ten 
ant  has  not  the  same  incentive  to  improve  the  land  as  he  would 
have  if  owner  of  the  soil ;  as  a  result  the  farms  are  greatly  im 
poverished,  and  many  places  are  nearly  worthless.  Man>  of 
the  houses  are  badly  out  of  repair,  and  hardly  tenable,  and  the 
vicinity  wears  an  aspect  of  neglect  and  desolation.  The  barns 
and  outbuildings  are  not  unfrequently  thatched  with  straw, 
with  doors  broken  from  their  hinges,  all  bearing  the  impress  of 
age.  In  a  few  cases  the  tenant  makes  a  good  livelihood ;  but 
in  the  majority  of  instances  he  can  barely  provide  subsistence 
for  his  family,  to  say  nothing  of  rent.  Sometimes,  rather  than 
leave  the  place,  the  tenant  will  mortgage  his  stock,  in  the  hope 
that  something  will  turn  up  in  his  favor ;  but  he  not  unfre 
quently  finds  himself  at  the  end  of  the  year  stripped  of  his 
goods  and  turned  into  the  street.  On  the  other  hand,  some 
unprincipled  tenants  will  not  scruple  to  raise  something  on  the 
farm,  turn  it  into  cash,  and  move  into  other  parts  before  the 
landlord  comes  around  after  the  rent.  This  system  is  greatly 
prejudicial  to  all  parties  concerned. 


NORTHEAST. 


POPULATION.    3,172. — SQUARE   ACRES,    24,250. 


was  formed  as  a  town,  March  7,  1788.  It 
derives  its  name  from  its  geographical  position  in  the 
)0  county.  Milan  was  taken  off  in  1818,  and  Pine  Plains 
in  1823.  A  tongue  of  land  nearly  two  miles  wide 
extends  nearly  four  miles  north  of  the  remaining  part  of  the  town. 
The  surface  is  a  hilly  and  broken  upland.  The  Taghkanick 
Mountains,  extending  along  the  eastern  border,  are  rocky  and 
broken,  and  are  from  1000  to  1200  feet  above  tide.  The  highest 
point  in  the  valley  west  of  the  mountains,  forming  the  summit  level 
of  the  New  York  and  Harlem  Railroad,  is  771  feet  above  tide. 
Ten  Mile  River,  the  principal  stream  flows  south,  nearly 
through  the  town.  Shekomeko  Creek  flows  north  through  the 
west  part.  Indian  Pond,  on  the  east  line,  Round  Pond  near 
the  south  part,  and  Rudds  Pond,  are  the  principal  bodies  of 
water.  The  valleys  have  generally  a  gravelly  and  clayey  soil ; 
the  hills  in  many  places  are  rocky  and  fit  only  for  pasturage. 
Extensive  beds  of  iron  ore  have  been  opened  in  the  town. 
Northeast  Centre,  Millerton,  Spencers  Corners,  Coleman  Sta- 

*  See  page  49. 

241— p 


242  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

tion,  Mount  Riga,  Shekomeko,  Federal  Store,  and  Oblong,  are 
hamlets.  The  pioneer  settlers  were  mostly  from  Connecticut, 
and  located  here  from  1725  to  1730.  The  first  religious 
services  were  held  by  Moravian  Missionaries,  at  an  Indian 
mission  house  near  the  north  borders  of  Indian  Pond.  The 
site  of  this  mission  house  is  yet  shown  on  lands  of  Hiram 
Clark.* 

The  Dakin  ore  bed  was  opened  in  1846,  by  the  proprietor, 
who  erected  a  furnace  in  the  vicinity,  and  ran  it  until  1856. 
The  mine  is  at  the  foot  of  the  Taghkanick  Mountain,  where  it 
makes  a  bend  into  Connecticut,  about  one-and-a-half  miles 
above  the  Salisbury  mines.  An  extensive  furnace  is  located 
about  one  mile  northwest  of  Millerton.  A  cupola  furnace 
was  erected  here  for  the  manufacture  of  car-wheels.  A  slate 
company  was  formed  in  this  town  in  1812.  In  1851,  there 
was  no  house  where  the  thriving  village  of  Millerton  now 
stands.  Baltus  Lott  and  Adam  Showerman  first  settled  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town. 

The  following  are  extracts  from  the  early  town  records  of 
Northeast  : 

Pursuant  to  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New 
York,  passed  March  26,  1823,  for  dividing  the  towns  of  Amenia 
and  Northeast,  in  the  County  of  Duchess,  and  erecting  a  new 
town  therefrom  by  the  name  of  Northeast,  and  directing  the 
first  Town  Meeting  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Alex.  Neely  in 
said  town  ;  a  Town  Meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  the 
aforesaid  Alexander  Neely,  in  the  town  of  Northeast,  on  the 
ist  day  of  April,  1823,  Reuben  B.  Rudd,  one  of  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  for  the  County  of  Duchess,  residing  in  said  town, 
presiding  :  The  above  mentioned  act  was  read ;  Enos  Hop 
kins  was  chosen  Moderator,  and  Charles  Culver  and  Alanson 
Culver,  Clerks  for  the  day.  The  following  are  the  by-laws  and 
regulations  passed  by  the  town  of  Northeast  at  the  aforemen 
tioned  town  meeting  : 

That  $500  be  raised  for  the  support  of  the  poor  during  the 
ensuing  year. 

*  See  chapter  on  Pine  Plains. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  245 

That  the  town  elect  three  Assessors,  four  Constables,  and 
two  Pound  Masters  for  the  ensuing  year. 

That  a  fence  to  be  considered  lawful  shall  be  four  and  one- 
half  feet  in  height,  and  the  materials  shall  be  laid  no  more  than 
five  inches  apart  for  two  feet  above  the  ground. 

That  no  hogs  shall  be  suffered  to  run  in  the  highway  after 
three  months  old,  without  a  ring  in  the  nose. 

That  proper  persons  shall  be  employed  to  run  the  line 
between  the  towns  of  Amenia  and  Northeast,  with  proper 
attendants,  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

That  the  Collector  shall  be  allowed  but  three  cents  on  the 
dollar  for  collecting  fees. 

The  following  officers  were  duly  elected  officers  of  the  town 
of  Northeast  for  the  ensuing  year,  the  ist  day  of  April,  1823  : 
Philo  M.  Winchell,  Supervisor ;  Platt  Smith,  Town  Clerk  • 
David  Sheldon,  Noah  Brown,  and  Amos  Bryan,  Assessors ; 
Jacob  Dakin,  Douglass  Clark,  and  Hiram  Hamblin,  Commis 
sioners  of  Highways ;  Enos  Hopkins  and  Eben  Wheeler, 
Overseers  of  the  Poor;  Wm.  Park,  Stephen  B.  Trumbridge, 
and  John  S.  Perlee,  Commissioners  of  Schools ;  John  But- 
tolph,  Jun.,  Chas.  Perry,  and  Peter  Mills,  Inspectors  of  Schools. 

Voted,  April  5th,  1825,  that  the  Commissioners  of  Common 
Schools,  and  the  Inspectors  of  the  same,  shall  be  allowed  a 
compensation  for  their  services  for  1824. 

Voted,  April  yth,  1829,  that  the  town  disapproves  of  uniting 
with  the  county  in  the  erection  of  a  County  Poor  House. 

The  Dakin  family  came  from  Putnam  County.  Elder 
Simon  Dakin  moved  into  this  town  about  1766,  and  formed 
the  first  Baptist  Church  at  Spencers  Corners.  He  had  three 
sons — Joshua,  Caleb,  and  Simon ;  also  four  daughters. 
Another  prominent  family  were  the  Winchells.  Jas.  Winchell 
was  a  man  of  considerable  property.  He  owned  a  farm  and 
mill,  and  was  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
At  his  death,  a  portion  of  his  estate  was  devised  by  will  to  the 
church.  His  brother,  Martin  E.  Winchell,  was  likewise  a  member. 
Martin  had  represented  his  county  in  the  Legislature,  and  was 


244  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

#  man  of  considerable  note.  Philo  M.  Winchell,  another 
brother,  was  a  farmer,  and  had  also  occupied  a  seat  in  the 
Legislature  of  the  State.  Major  Abraham  Hart  well  lived  on 
the  farm  occupied  by  Orville  Dakin.  Philip  Spencer,  ancestor 
of  the  Spencers  in  this  town,  had  three  sons — Ambrose,  Philip, 
and  Alexander.  Ambrose  became  a  Judge;  Philip  was  a 
lawyer  of  some  repute,  and  was  at  one  time  Clerk  for  the 
County ;  Alexander  was  a  farmer,  and  once  elected  to  a  seat 
in  the  Legislature. 

Stephen  Brown  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He 
had  three  sons — Joseph,  Abner,  and  Ransom.  Abner  married 
a  daughter  of  Philo  M.  Winchell.  The  Lawrence  family 
descended  from  Uriah,  who  had  one  son  named  Martin.  The 
old  gentleman  was  Justice  of  the  Peace.  A  man  was  brought 
'before  him  and  fined  for  swearing.  He  paid  his  fine,  but 
continued  to  swear,  and  the  penalty  was  again  imposed,  and  as 
promptly  paid.  This  was  repeated  until  his  friends  took  him 
away  from  before  the  magistrate. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Rudd  family  was  Major  B.  Rudd, 
who  had  four  sons.  One  of  them  was  a  Justice  in  the  town 
of  Northeast  Josiah  Halstead  lived  in  this  town  on  the  farm 
known  as  the  Wilcox  place.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of 
the  M.  E.  Church.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  worked  at  his 
trade.  Before  the  year  1800  he  removed  to  Ancram,  where 
he  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  had  six  sons  and 
three  daughters,  Benjamin,  John,  Samuel,  Joel,  Joseph  and 
James  ;  Betsey,  Lavinia,  and  Nancy.  John  was  a  man  of  good 
abilities,  and  studied  for  a  physician  under  Dr.  Dodge.  He 
once  delivered  a  Fourth  of  July  oration  at  the  Mountain 
Meeting  House,  near  Col.  Wincheli's. 

Samuel  Eggleston  was  a  farmer  who  lived  about  one  and  a 
half  miles  north  of  Millerton  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Noah 
Gridley.  He  had  three  sons,  viz  :  Nicholas,  David,  Samuel, 
and  seven  daughters.  Nicholas  married  Polly  Stewart,  by 
whom  he  had  seven  sons:  Truman,  Ambrose,  John,  Albeit, 
-Stewart,  Hamilton,  and  Benjamin  ;  also  one  daughter,  Martha, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  245 

who  married  Philip  Jenks,  a  deacon  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Ambrose  became  a  Presbyterian  minister.  John 
was  a  physician,  and  the  rema:ning  sons  were  farmers.  David 
married  Olive  Cartwright.  He  took  an  active  part  in  religious 
meetings.  Notwithstanding  his  earnest  piety,  he  would  some 
times  allow  his  temper  to  get  the  mastery,  as  in  the  following 
instance  : 

He  with  several  of  his  neighbors  were  on  their  way  to 
Poughkeepsie,  each  with  a  load  of  pork.  They  fell  in  with  a 
man  of  giant  proportions,  who  felt  his  importance,  and  was 
disposed  to  abuse  the  whole  party.  They  soon  met  a  wagon- 
in  which  were  two  little  boys.  The  big  man  locked  wheels 
with  the  boys,  and  then  swung  his  whip,  and  uttered  sucli 
profane  epithets  as  frightened  them.  David  Eggleston,  being 
the  nearest,  came  to  their  relief;  and  then,  turning  to  the  man 
upbraided  him  for  his  ungentlemanly  conduct.  Thereupon  the 
fellow  jumped  out  of  his  wagon  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
David  a  sound  beating  for  thus  presuming  to  meddle  in  his 
affairs;  but  he  soon  found,  to. his  sorrow,  that  he  had  got  the 
wrong  David,  at  whose  hands  he  received  a  severe  thrashing. 

This  was  their  first  meeting.  Their  second  occurred  about 
twelve  years  afterward,  at  an  auction  at  Paine's  Mill,  a  short 
distance  below  Millerton,  when  the  man  said  to  David,  "  They 
tell  me  you  are  the  man  that  abused  me  so  on  the  road  to 
Poughkeepsie."  David,  who  was  a  little  deaf,  replied — 
"Abused  you,  did  you  say,  or  bruised  you  ;  I  remember  of 
bruising  a  man."  "  Well,  both,"  wis  the  reply  ;  "  you  struck 
me  with  a  stone."  "  Oh,  yes,"  said  David  ;  and  raising  his 
fist  continued,  "  that 's  the  stone  I  struck  you  with,  it  was  an 
Eggle-j/0/^."  Two  of  David's  grandsons  are  now  Methodist 
ministers. 

Elder  John  Leland  was  a  Baptist  preacher,  and  came  from 
the  western  part  of  Massachusetts.  While  living  in  Massa 
chusetts,  the  people  of  his  town  made  an  immense  cheese, 
weighing  some  five  hundred  pounds,  and  commissioned  Leland 
to  present  it  to  Thomas  Jefferson,  then  President  of  the  United 


246  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

States.     He  received  it  graciously,  and  in  turn  sent  a  piece  of 
it  to  the  Governor  of  each  State. 

Joshua  and  Ephraim  Hamblin  owned  the  farm  on  which  is 
situated  the  Mount  Riga  ore-beds.  Wm.  Tonkey  came 
from  France,  and  bought  a  large  tract  east  of  the  center  line 
of  the  Oblong,  extending  northward  to  Boston  Corners.  He 
had  three  sons,  Daniel,  Anthony,  and  Nicholas,  and  one 
daughter.  Nicholas  was  a  singular  character.  He  was  a  firm 
believer  in  witches.  They  appeared  to  him  in  the  shape  of 
cats,  woodchucks,  and  fleas.  He  believed  all  women  having 
black  eyes  and  black  hair  were  witches.  One  Mrs.  Hamblin, 
who  joined  farms  with  him,  was  the  worst  of  the  whole  lot. 
This  aged  lady,  then  seventy-five  years  old,  wished  to  go  to  the 
house  of  a  neighbor,  and  took  a  back  road  to  avoid  going  by  a 
house  in  which  some  people  were  sick  with  the  small-pox. 
Tonkey  met  her,  and  cut  her  on  the  forehead  so  as  to  cause 
the  blood  to  flow,  for  the  purpose,  as  he  said,  of  breaking  the 
enchantment.  It  is  supposed  that  he  hid  the  money  in  the 
rocks  that  Byron  Bishop  found  a  few  years  ago.  His  affair 
with  the  old  lady  cost  him  several  hundred  dollars. 

John  and  David  Buttolph  were  brothers.  The  former  was 
an  influential  member  in  the  M.  E.  Church.  He  had  six  sons, 
viz :  Asa ;  Warren  ;  John,  who  was  a  Baptist  minister,  and 
preached  several  years  in  this  town ;  Milton,  a  Methodist 
preacher  in  the  early  part  of  his  life,  but  who  afterwards  joined 
the  Presbyterians  ;  Morris,  and  David. 

Elder  Truman  Hopkins  for  many  years  preached  in  the 
Baptist  Church  of  this  town.  He  had  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  The  sons  were  named  Enos,  Truman,  and  Joseph. 

The  ancestors  of  the  Ketcham  family  bought  a  tract  of 
five  hundred  acres  in  this  town  for  five  hundred  pounds,  a  part 
of  which  is  now  owned  by  the  Egglestons  and  Sheldons. 
Ketcham  erected  a  mill  on  a  small  stream,  the  head  of  the 
Oblong  River.  He  also  kept  tavern.  He  had  twelve  child 
ren.  His  son  Noah  became  crazy,  and  cut  his  throat  with  a 
razor,  at  Pine  Plains.  The  razor  was  afterward  in  possession 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  247 

of  Josiah  Halstead.  Simeon  Kelsey  owned  what  is  known  as 
the  Camp  farm,  and  was  a  man  of  considerable  wealth.  He 
left  three  children,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  To  the  latter,  he 
gave  at  his  death  his  whole  property,  except  ten  dollars  to 
each  of  his  sons. 

Josiah  Wilcox  lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Alanson 
Culver.  Jonathan  Close  came  from  Putnam  County.  He 
had  three  sons,  Jonathan,  Reuben,  and  Solomon,  and  a 
daughter  that  married  a  Williams,  a  gunsmith  at  Boston 
Corners.  Joel  Rogers  lived  near  Boston  Corners. 

Nathaniel  Lathrop  married  a  daughter  of  Elder  Dakin,  and 
lived  near  Mount  Riga  Station.  He  moved  from  this  town 
before  1800. 

Three  brothers  by  the  name  of  Culver  came  from  France, 
and  settled  in  this  country.  Elisha  Culver  was  a  descendant 
of  one  of  the  brothers,  and  settled  near  the  old  Baptist  Church 
at  Spencers  Corners.  Both  himself  and  wife  were  members 
of  the  Episcopal  Church.  He  was  a  Justice  of  the  Peace 
under  King  George.  He  used  to  draw  up  many  of  the  legal 
documents  for  the  people.  The  family  have  preserved  a  deed 
written  by  him  which  is  dated  1764.  He  had  three  sons  and 
four  daughters;  Eiisha,  Jun.,  Joseph,  and  John;  Hannah, 
Sarah,  Martha,  and  Polly.  Elisha  had  a  son  who  became  a 
sea  captain,  and  who  died  on  the  voyage  from  Batavia  to 
Philadelphia.  John  Culver  became  a  Methodist  preacher, 
having  been  received  into  the  church  July,  1788.  He  was 
licensed  to  exhort  July,  1790,  by  Rev.  John  Bloodgood,  and 
was  accepted  as  a  local  preacher  by  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson, 
in  August  of  the  following  year.  When  John  Culver  began  to 
preach  there  was  no  Methodist  Church  in  this  town.  He  held 
his  meetings  in  barns,  school-houses,  and  private  dwellings.  He 
preached  in  Ancram,  Pine  Plains,  Milan,  Copake,  Hillsdale, 
Mount  Washington,  Sheffield,  Salisbury,  Sharon,  Canaan, 
Amenia,  and  Stanford. 

According  to  his  Journal,  he  solemnized  over  two  hundred 
marriages,  and  probably  preached  over  eight  hundred  funeral 


248  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

sermons.  He  preached  at  the  time  of  the  epidemic  in 
Ancram,  when  the  deaths  averaged  three  a  week.  The  Metho 
dists  then  built  their  houses  of  worship  very  plain.  When 
about  to  erect  one  at  Salisbury,  they  asked  John  M.  Holley 
to  contribute  for  the  purpose,  who  declared  his  willingness  if 
they  would  "  build  anything  but  a  sheep  pen."  The  society 
have  now  two  neat  houses  of  worship  in  the  town.  In  the 
year  1807,  and  for  some  time  thereafter,  one  traveling  Metho 
dist  preacher  supplied  the  following  places  with  preaching  once 
a  fortnight,  viz : — Pine  Plains,  Milan,  Ancram  (where  they 
built  the  first  house  of  worship  in  that  town),  Copake,  Hillsdale, 
Amenia,  Salisbury,  Sharon,  and  Canaan. 

Elisha  Driggs  was  a  tanner,  and  came  from  Middletowny 
Conn.,  and  lived  on  the  James  Halstead  place.  Thomas 
Haywood  moved  on  the  George  Dakin  farm  about  the  year 
1802.  He  had  five  sons  and  nine  daughters  that  grew  to  years 
of  maturity.  Most  of  them  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  The  traveling  minister  used  to  preach  at  his  house 
once  a  fortnight.  A  resident  of  his  vicinity  died,  who 
bequeathed  his  property  to  a  school  district,  to  be  expended 
in  the  erection  of  a  school-house.  Haywood  promised  $50 
more,  provided  they  would  build  it  large  enough  to  hold 
meetings  in,  which  they  did.  This  was  in  the  year  1807,  and 
the  building  is  yet  standing,  we  believe. 

Agrippa  Martin  lived  on  the  David  Eggleston  farm.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Elder  Hopkins.  Holley  had  two 
sisters,  who  married,  respectively,  Philip  Spencer  and  Elisha 
Colver.  Holley  had  four  sons,  Luther,  Josiah,  John  and 
Newman.  Luther  married  a  daughter  of  Elder  Dakin,  and 
lived  in  Salisbury.  He  left  five  sons:  John  M.  was  a  merchant, 
and  owned  a  furnace  at  Salisbury ;  Edward  O.  was  Sheriff  of 
Columbia  County;  Newman  was  a  farmer  ;  Horace  became  a, 
Presbyterian  minister,  and  Orville  was  a  lawyer. 

Josiah  Holley  lived  on  the  Douglass  farm,  at  the  lower  end 
of  Rudds  Pond,  and  moved  from  it  during  the  Revolution  to 
the  town  of  Ancram.  Newman  belonged  to  the  British  Light 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  249, 

Infantry,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  emigrated  to  Nova  Scotia. 
John  Holley,  Jun.,  took  an  active  part  in  that  struggle.  He 
was  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  and  a  number  of  other  engage 
ments. 

About  one  hundred  and  fifty  rods  from  the  west  line  of 
Northeast,  in  the  town  of  Ancram,  are  the  "  Cave"  and 
"  Oven,"  two  natural  curiosities  which  attract  numbers  of 
visitors.  The  cave  was  discovered  by  a  man  named  Holmes.. 
He  was  hunting ;  and  hearing  his  dog  barking  in  a  peculiar 
manner,  he  went  up  to  him,  but  all  he  could  see  was  a  hole  in 
the  ground.  Holmes  pushed  his  dog  into  the  opening,  and 
went  on,  thinking  the  animal  would  soon  follow  him  ;  but  he 
never  returned.  This  excited  some  curiosity ;  and  one  day 
some  young  men  went  to  examine  the  cave.  They  advanced 
a  few  feet,  got  frightened,  and  scrambled  out  as  quickly  as 
possible.  They  said  they  saw  some  barrels  in  the  further  end 
of  the  cavern,  and  heard  strange  noises,  and  believed  it  to  be 
a  den  of  thieves.  Afterward  John  Holley,  Moses  Dolph  and 
John  Culver,  went  into  the  cave,  and  at  the  farther  extremity 
found  a  spring  and  the  remains  of  a  dog.  After  this  it  was 
frequently  visited. 

About  this  time  the  State  appointed  some  men  to  examine 
it,  to  determine  its  fitness  for  a  prison,  like  one  in  Connecticut. 
They  decided  it  was  too  damp  to  be  used  for  that  purpose. 
The  oven  lies  about  eighty  rods  west  of  the  cave.  It  is  a  piece 
of  detached  stone,  and  is  so  named  from  its  shape,  which 
resembles  a  large  oven.  A  few  years  ago  a  geologist  visited 
the  locality;  he  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  oven  was  formed 
by  the  action  of  water. 

At  the  foot  of  Winchell  Mountain,  near  the  Snyder  tan 
yard,  at  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  stood  a  log  hut.  Sixty 
rods  from  this  stood  another.  In  the  vicinity  dwelt  the  Hart- 
well  family.  These  three  dwellings  were  the  only  ones  in  that 
immediate  neighborhood  ;  they  stood  in  the  edge  of  the  forest,, 
each  in  a  small  clearing.  Back  of  them  the  woods  were  filled 
with  Indians,  friendly  and  unfriendly  to  the  white  people. 


250  HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

These  pioneer  settlers  were  staunch  Whigs.  A  little  to  the 
north  of  them  in  the  town  of  Ancram,  lived  two  or  three  fami 
lies,  who  were  Tories  of  the  rankest  type,  who  did  not  scruple 
to  add  murder  to  their  list  of  crimes.  A  plan  was  matured,  by 
which  they  were  to  surround  the  Whig  dwellings  in  the  dead  of 
of  night,  and  assisted  by  some  of  the  Indians,  murder  the 
families  in  cold  blood.  The  night  appointed  for  the  execution 
of  their  horrible  intentions  at  length  came.  Some  friendly 
Indians  having  revealed  the  project  to  the  Hartwells  and  their 
neighbors,  the  latter  had  armed  themselves,  and  had  all 
congregated  at  one  point.  As  they  numbered  quite  a  formida 
ble  force,  the  attacking  party  did  not  dare  molest  them. 

At  another  time  the  white  people  were  advised  by  a 
friendly  squaw,  who  had  stolen  away  from  the  Indian  village 
for  that  purpose  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  that  some  Tories 
were  lying  in  wait  in  the  vicinity,  to  pick  them  off  by  stealth. 
The  next  morning  the  Hartwells  to  the  number  of  three  or 
four  set  out  for  the  bush  in  which  they  were  informed  a  Tory 
was  secreted.  They  entered  in  different  directions,  and  com 
menced  to  "  beat  up  the  game."  The  only  avenue  of  escape 
left  to  the  cow-boy  was  across  a  clearing,  some  rods  in  width. 
One  man,  an  excellent  marksman,  was  stationed  to  watch  this 
Point.  Presently  a  shout  announced  the  game  had  started ; 
almost  immediately  he  broke  cover,  and  ran  at  full  speed 
across  the  clearing.  The  man  fired  upon  him,  but  the  fleeing 
Tory  only  sped  the  faster,  and  was  soon  lost  to  sight  in  the 
opposite  thicket.  They  pursued  him  for  more  than  a  mile, 
guided  by  the  blood  he  left  in  his  track,  and  then  lost  him. 
No  information  was  ever  received  as  to  who  their  enemy  was, 
or  what  was  the  result  of  the  wound.  The  Whigs  were  never 
again  molested  from  that  source. 

Connected  with  Spencers  Corners  is  a  tradition  touching 
the  untimely  fate  of  a  pedlar.  He  had  been  observed  to  have 
quite  a  large  amount  of  jewelry,  and  was  believed  to  have 
had  considerable  money  besides.  He  was  last  seen  near  this 
village  late  one  afternoon,  and  was  never  heard  of  more  alive. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  251 

His  sudden  disappearance,  together  with  the  fact  of  his  carry 
ing  so  many  valuables,  gave  rise  to  suspicions  of  foul  play. 
His  body  was  searched  for,  and  inquiries  made  after  him  in  the 
neighboring  villages  and  townships,  but  all  efforts  proved 
fruitless.  After  the  excitement  had  passed  over,  and  the 
incident  nearly  forgotten,  some  parties  had  occasion  to  look 
into  an  old  well  in  the  village,  and  there  discovered  an  object 
which  proved  to  be  the  body  of  the  missing  pedlar.  The 
poor  fellow  had  been  robbed  and  murdered,  and  for  want  of  a 
better  hiding  place,  his  body  had  been  thrown  into  this  unused 
well.  The  murderers  were  never  found  out,  and  the  case  will 
probably  ever  remain  a  mystery. 

After  the  Moravians  the  Methodists  held  the  first  religious 
meetings  in  this  town.  The  first  sermon  preached  was  in  a 
house  which  stood  east  of  the  present  residence  of  William 
James,  Esq.,  near  Sharon  Station.  East  of  this  stood  the  old 
Slawson  Tavern  ;  and  still  farther  east  was  the  stone  house 
known  as  the  Ray  House.  One  of  the  early  preachers  was 
familiarly  known  as  Billy  Hibbard.  He  was  once  met  by  a 
Presbyterian  clergyman,  who  rather  sneeringly  inquired  to 
what  order  he  belonged.  "I  belong  to  the  kneeling  order," 
was  the  prompt  reply  of  the  unpolished  but  honest  Hibbard. 

Probably  the  oldest  house  in  town  is  the  brick  house  built 
by  Ezra  Clark,  grandfather  of  Hiram  Clark,  Esq.,  who  came 
from  Lisbon,  in  Conn.,  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and 
is  now  occupied,  we  believe,  by  one  Tanner.  A  family  of 
Wheelers  lived  west  and  south  of  Indian  Pond.  The  Good- 
riches  located  near  Northeast  Centre,  and  the  Collins  family 
towards  Amenia.  The  Spencers  owned  the  farm  on  which 
Hiram  Clark  resides.  Spencers  Corners  is  a  hamlet  named 
after  that  family,  and  was  formerly  quite  a  business  place.  The 
town  meetings  were  sometimes  held  at  Northeast  Centre  before 
the  division  of  Northeast*  was  made. 


*  Notheast,  Milan,  and  Pine  Plains,  comprise  the  T.ittle  Nine 
rns  pi-anted  by  the  Crown  in  1706,  to  nine  men,  viz:  Sampson  Hoi 
{ip  Van  I  »am,  James  (Iraliam,  R.  Lurtiug,  F.  Faucoiuer,  Thotiii 
lompesson,  and  Richard  Sackett. 


.  Partners  tract,  which 

Rip    Van    I  tain,  James  (Iraliam,  R.  Lurtiug,  F.  Faucoiuer,  Thomas   Wenham,   Richard 
Mompesson, 


252  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

In  the  vicinity  of  the  Sharon  ore-bed  are  several  old 
dwellings,  whose  ancient  style  and  dilapidated  appearance 
show  them  to  be  centenarians.  One  of  them  stands  on  the 
very  brink  of  the  pit,  and  to  the  observer  seems  ready  to  top 
ple  over  into  the  abyss  at  any  moment. 

Nov.  6th,  1751,  nine  persons  constituted  themselves  into  a 
Baptist  Church,  in  the  Philipse  Patent,  now  Putnam  County. 
Here  they  were  much  disturbed  by  outside  trouble.  They 
were  invited  to  remove  to  Northeast  Precinct.  The  pastor 
and  others  visited  this  locality,  and  were  persuaded  that  "  God 
was  calling  them  to  go  up  and  possess  the  land."  Here  the. 
very  log-cabin  overflowed  with  plenty,  and  here  no  standing, 
order  could  bind  the  conscience.  The  reasons  for  removal 


House  built  by  Ezra  Clarlc. 

seemed  so  weighty,  and  the  invitation  so  cordial,  that  it  was. 
decided  the  change  should  be  at  once  made.  Previous  to 
removal,  however,  they  dismissed  several  of  their  number  to- 
form  another  church  in  the  vicinity,  over  which  Brother  Cole 
was  ordained  as  pastor  On  the  ist  day  of  May,  1773,  they 
held  their  first  covenant  meeting  in  Northeast  at  the  house  of 
Rev.  Simon  Dakin,  pastor,  near  "  Spencers  Clearing."  Here 
again  they  set  up  their  banner,  and  for  three  years  held  public- 
religious  services. 

During  the  year  1775  occurred  the  events  which  led  to  the, 
Revolution.  Among  those  that  signed  the  patriots'  pledge  we 
find  the  names  of  James  Winchell,  Benjamin  Covey,  Ensly 
Simmons,  Elisha  Mead,  David  Hamblin,  the  Knickerbackers, 
John  Fulton,  Ebenezer  Crane,  Smith  Simmons,  Israel  Thomp 
son,  Nathaniel  Mead,  and  others.  The  Maltby  bed  of  iron 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  253 

-ore,  then  known  as  the  Dakin  bed,  had  been  opened  several 
years  before,  but  was  abandoned.  It  was  this  year  re-opened, 
and  iron  taken  out  for  the  casting  of  cannon  for  the  patriot 
-army. 

In  1776,  they  prepared  to  build  a  sanctuary.  Simon  Dakin, 
their  pastor,  donated  them  the  land  now  occupied  by  the  old 
graveyard  at  Spencer's  Corners,  and  on  this  they  laid  the 
foundation.  While  slavery  was  multiplying  its  victims,  the 
church  began  to  feel  the  promptings  of  humanity  against  the 
slave  trade  ;  and  at  a  church  meeting  held  Sept.  24th,  1778, 
they  declared  slavery  to  be  contrary  to  the  gospel,  and  voted 
they  would  do  nothing  to  uphold  it.  This  is  the  first  public 
act  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  within  the  County,  of  which  we 
have  any  knowledge. 

In  1780.  Elder  E.  Wood,  and  others,  withdrew  from  the 
Northeast  Church,  and  organized  a  branch  in  Amenia  Precinct. 
Wood  became  their  pastor. 

After  Elder  Simon  Dakin  had  served  the  church  for  nearly 
thirty  years,  he  was  permitted  in  1782  to  see  the  greatest 
revival  known  under  his  ministry.  He  baptized  thirty-one 
candidates  during  that  rear.  In  1786,  a  single  case  of  "  Wo 
man's  Rights"  was  brought  before  the  church,  and  a  sister  was 
excluded  for  not  obeying  her  husband,  and  usurping  authority 
over  him.  A  serious  division  of  sentiment  occurred  the  fol 
lowing  year,  and  a  council  met  at  their  house  of  worship  to 
advise  with  them.  As  the  result,  fifteen  were  dismissed  to 
form  a  new  church,  which  they  did  at  what  is  now  Northeast 
Centre,  on  ground  now  occupied  by  the  Methodists.  In  1797, 
the  church  so  many  years  blessed  in  the  ministrations  of 
Brother  Dakin,  followed  sadly  his  remains  to  their  last  resting 
place. 

During  the  five  years  subsequent  to  1803,  Rev.  John 
Leland  moved  into  the  town,  purchased  land,  and  took  charge 
•of  the  church.  He  preached  on  the  Sabbath  at  the  meeting 
house,  and  on  week-day  evenings  in  the  large  kitchen  of  the 
liouse  now  the  Presbyterian  parsonage.  In  1808  the  church 


254  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

was  visited  by  Elder  Isaac  Fuller,  of  Roxbury,  Conn.,  and  a 
great  revival  followed.  Over  one  hundred  conversions  were 
announced,  sixty-seven  baptized,  and  the  membership  aug 
mented  to  eighty-eight.  Among  the  converts  was  James 
Winchell.  The  same  year,  Brother  I.  Allerton,  from  the  Hills- 
dale  Church,  came  among  them,  was  invited  to  the  pastorate, 
and  afterwards  ordained. 

James  M.  Winchell.  graduate  of  Brown  University,  was  in 
1812,  licensed  to  preach.  He  was  ordained  the  following  year  at 
Bristol,  R.  I.,  and  soon  after  was  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Baptist  Church  in  Boston.  The  same  year  Brother  John 
Buttolph  was  licensed  to  preach.  On  the  4th  of  May,  1814,, 
he  was  ordained,  and  began  his  pastoral  labors  among  them. 
He  continued  with  them  eleven  years,  when  he  removed  west. 
In  1821  a  revival  came,  and  Buttolph  baptized  sixty-six, 
among  them  John  I.  Fulton,  who  was  next  year  licensed  and 
sent  forth  an  approved  minister  of  the  Gospel.  Seth  Thomp 
son  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  subsequently  became  a 
successful  pastor  in  Connecticut. 

The  numerical  strength  of  the  church  Had  again  declined, 
when,  in  1826,  Elder  Thomas  Winter  came  among  them, 
accepted  the  call  of  the  church,  and  served  them  a  period  of 
nearly  thirteen  years.  In  1828,  Elder  Winter  led  them  to 
consider  the  matter  of  building  a  new  house  of  worship.  A 
cordial  response  met  his  call,  and  James  Winchell,  Martin 
Lawrence,  and  Samuel  Brown,  were  appointed  a  building 
committee. 

The  house  being  completed  it  was,  on  the  i2th  of  August, 
1829,  dedicated  by  appropriate  ceremonies.  Elder  Thomas 
Winter  preached  the  sermon,  and  Rufus  Babcock,  D.  D., 
assisted  in  the  services..  The  building  cost  about  $5,000,  of 
which  amount  James  Winchell  donated  $1,700.  It  was  built 
of  brick,  thoroughly  constructed,  furnished  with  an  excellent 
bell,  and  was  for  many  years  a  blessing  and  credit  to  the 
community. 

In  1831,  James  Winchell  and  wife  gave  to  the  trustees  a 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  255 

house  and  fourteen  acres  of  land,  for  the  use  of  the  pastors  of 
the  church. 

About  the  year  1866,  the  church  voted  to  sell  the  old 
meeting  house,  purchase  a  new  site,  and  erect  a  new  sanctuary 
in  the  growing  village  of  Millerton.  On  the  igth  of  August, 
they  met  for  the  last  time  in  the  old  house  at  Spencers  Corners. 
Precious,  tender,  and  touching  reminiscences  filled  their  minds 
as  they  realized  "  It  is  the  last  time."  Then  with  a  solemn 
step  they  went  out  from  the  beloved  place,  and  the  old  brick 
church  became  a  thing  of  the  past.  Nov.  4th,  1867,  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  years  after  its  organization,  the  church 
met  to  lay  the  corner  stone  of  its  fourth,  and  present  house  of 
worship. 

Thus  have  we  given,  in  brief,  the  history  of  a  church 
which  covers  in  its  existence  a  century  and  a  quarter,  and  is  a 
record  worthy  of  profound  study.  It  opens  the  door  into  the 
hidden  mysteries  of  the  world's  great  life.  In  it  we  behold 
the  motive  power  which  influenced,  controlled,  and  shaped 
society.  In  it  we  see  a  religious  institution  coming  into 
contact  with  the  pride  and  voluptuousness  of  the  world. 

The  year  1642  appears,  in  the  history  of  America  in  an 
aspect  fitted  to  arrest  the  attention.  It  is  a  scene  of  religious 
bitterness,  fury,  and  persecution,  which  rises  to  sight.  A 
number  of  families,  guilty  of  no  crime,  who  simply  stood  up 
for  the  defense  and  enjoyment  of  religious  liberty,  were  so 
disturbed,  harassed,  proscribed,  that  they  left  Massachusetts, 
and  obtained  permission  of  the  "  Dutch  authorities"  to  settle 
in  New  York  Province,  there  to  reside  and  be  favored  with  the 
free  exercise  of  religion.  This  was,  to  some  of  them  at  least, 
but  martyrdom  in  another  form,  for  they  were  speedily  attacked 
by  Indians,  and  many  brought  to  suffer  death.  In  this  section 
of  country,  among  the  descendants  of  these  people,  we  trace 
the  origin  and  progress  of  our  spiritual  ancestry. 

The  oldest  mill  in  the  town  of  Northeast  was  that  built  by 
James  Winchell,  already  mentioned,  and  which  stood  at  what 
is  now  called  Irondale.  The  house  now  the  residence  of 


256  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Orville  Wakeman,  Esq.,  was  built  over  a  century  ago  by  the 
Buttolph  family.  John  Buttolph  had  a  consumptive  sister. 
When  living  in  this  house  a  hook  was  driven  into  the  wall ;  to 
this  a  rope  was  attached,  by  the  assistance  of  which  the 
invalid  could  raise  herself  to  a  sitting  posture.  The  hook  still 
remains  in  its  place,  and  the  proprietor  says  it  shall  remain 
there  as  long  as  he  lives.  Mr.  Wakeman  has  in  his  possession 
a  pair  of  spectacles  belonging  to  the  Hartwell  family  over  two 
hundred  years  old,  having  been  brought  from  the  "  old 
country"  by  the  ancestors  of  the  Hartwells.  They  were  made, 
apparently,  by  a  blacksmith,  strong  and  durable. 

A  part  of  Indian  Pond  lies  in  the  east  border  of  this  town, 
connected  with  which  are  some  interesting  Indian  reminiscen 
ces,  of  which  mention  has  already  been  made  in  the  chapter 
on  Pine  Plains.  The  writer  visited  the  locality  in  the  autum 
•of  1876.  The  site  of  the  Moravian  Mission  House  near  the 
west  shore  of  the  pond  is  now  occupied  by  a  field  of  stubble. 
The  tombstones  that  once  marked  the  graves  of  some  of  the 
early  missionaries,  in  an  adjacent  burial  ground,  have  been 
removed.  Some  of  these  slabs  may  now  be  seen  standing 
against  a  wall  in  a  neighboring  field.  One  of  these  was  a  few 
years  ago  reset  in  a  slate  rock,  near  the  site  of  the  mission,  but 
the  cattle  finally  displaced  the  stone,  and  it  broke  in  the  fall. 
The  mission  house  was  afterwards  occupied  as  a  schoolhouse. 
It  was  removed  previous  to  the  recollection  of  the  oldest 
person  now  living  in  the  neighborhood.  This  locality 
together  with  that  of  Wechquadnack,  on  the  opposite  shore  of 
the  pond,  are  yearly  visited  by  many,  who  find  an  interest  in 
the  "  quaint  but  forgotten  lore"  of  the  earlier  occupants  of  our 
•country. 


PAWLING. 


POPULATION,  1,760. SQUARE  ACRES.  28,850. 


7)AWLJXG  was  formed  as  a  Town*  March  7,  1788,  Dover 
being  taken  off  in  1  807.   It  bears  the  name  of  a  landholder 
',  _  ?   of  that    section  who    was  a  member    of  the    Provincial 


Assembly  of  New  York.  A  high  range  of  hills  extends 
along  the  east  border,  and  another  occupies  the  west  part.f 
A  fine,  broad  valley  is  included  between  these  two  highland 
regions.  Swamp  and  Croton  Rivers  take  their  rise  in  this 
valley,  J  the  former  flowing  north,  and  the  latter  south.  \Vha- 
ley  and  Little  Ponds  —  the  sources  of  the  Fishkill  —  lie  near  the 
west  border.  The  latter  is  noted  for  the  black  bass  found 
within  it.  A  ridge  of  limestone  extends  into  the  north  part 
from  Dover.  The  soil  is  a  slaty  and  gravelly  loam. 

Whaley  Pond  is  the  largest  body  of  water  in  the  town.     It 


*  Pawling  Precinct  was  formed  from  Beekman  Precinct,  Dec.  yist,  1768. 

t  Mt.  Tom.  a  prominent  peak,  one-half  mile  west  of  Pawling  Station,  is  about  300 
11-ct  above  the  valley. 

J  About  one-fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  the  village  of  Pawling  is  a  bit  of  lowland,  a 
part  of  the  drainage  of  which  finds  its  way  into  Swamp  Ifiver.  and  thence  into  the  Housa- 
tonic.  and  a  part  Mowing  into  the  Croton.  A  considerable  stream  which  comes  down  from 
Purgatory  Hill,  and  which  was  originally  a  tributary  of  Swamp  Paver,  was  a  few  years 
since  diverted  from  its  course,  and  now  supplies  the  Croton. 


258  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

has  been  considerably  enlarged  from  its  original  dimensions  by 
a  dam  built  by  a  Matteawan  Company,  and  is  used  as  a  stor 
age  reservoir  for  trie  supply  of  their  factories  in  time  of  low 
water.  In  this  pond  are  what  are  locally  known  as  the  "Float 
ing  Islands," — islands  covered  with  a  dense  growth  of  bushes 
and  trees  of  small  size,  which  float  on  the  water,  rising  and 
falling  to  the  extent  of  several  feet,  as  the  depth  of  the  water 
varies.  When  the  water  recedes  from  under  these  islands, 
they  appear  to  be  imbedded  in  the  mud.  A  few  years  since  a 
portion  of  one  of  these  became  detached  during  a  high  wind, 
and  floated  across  to  the  opposite  shore,  where  it  anchored. 

Oblong  Pond,  so  named  from  the  fact  of  its  lying  partly 
within  the  Oblong  tract,  is  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  town. 
Green  Mountain  Lake,  near  Pawling  Station,  is  so  called  from 
its  proximity  to  a  romantic  mountain  covered  with  evergreens. 
All  of  the  ponds  in  the  town  afford  fine  facilities  for  fishing. 

Nathan  Birdsell  was  probably  the  first  settler,  and  came 
into  town  about  the  year  1730.  He  hailed  from  Danbury, 
Conn.  There  being  no  road,  he  moved  his  family  on  horse 
back,  following  Indian  trails  and  deer  paths.  One  night,  (lur 
ing  this  journey,  while  encamped  in  the  woods,  one  of  his 
horses  strayed  away,  and  was  never  afterwards  found.  He 
put  up  a  log-house  on  lands  now  owned  by  A.  A.  Haines,  and 
settled  down  in  the  wilderness,  with  no  white  neighbors  within 
many  miles. 

Benjamin  Ferris,  the  Quaker  preacher,  was  the  next  settler, 
who  located  a  short  distance  northwest  of  the  residence  of  J. 
J.  Vanderburgh,  Esq.  A  pear  tree  was  standing  a  few  years 
ago,  on  this  ground,  said  to  have  been  set  out  by  him.  He 
was  a  son  of  Zachariah  Ferris,*  whose  ashes  repose  in  a  little 
rural  churchyard  near  Lanesville,  Conn. 

It  is  said  that  as  late  as  the  year  1740,  there  was  no  house 
on  the  post-road  running  from  Albany  to  New  York,  between 
the  present  residence  of  Mrs.  Geo.  P.  Taber,  and  the  Alfred 


Zachariah  Ferris  came  into  New  Milford  about  the  year  1711. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  259 

Wing  place,  then  known  as  Harrington's.  Soon  afterwards 
however,  there  was  quite  an  influx  of  population  into  the 
Pawling  Valley,  coming  principally  from  Rhode  Island.  They 
are  described  as  ''a  strong,  vigorous,  energetic  race  of  people, 
possessing  all  the  elements  of  progress,  but  were  not  re 
markable  for  general  intelligence."  Some  of  the  «first  settlers 
of  the  Valley  that  have  come  to  our  knowledge  were  Comfort 
Shaw,  Nathan  Gary,  Henry  Gary.  William  and  Daniel  Hunt. 
Jeremiah  Sabin,  John  Salmon,  William  Hallo  way,  Nathan 
Pearce,  Ephraim  Nichols,  and  Abraham  Slocurn. 

The  first  regularly  ordained  salaried  minister  in  Pawling 
was  Rev.  Henry  Gary.  He  first  settled  on  the  West  Moun 
tain,  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Amos  Woodin  farm.  A 
recent  writer  says  of  him  :  "  His  stipulated  salary  tvas  about 
fifty  dollars  per  annum,  in  hard  money,  which  was  seldom 
liquidated  in  full ;  and  had  marrying  then  been  a  cash  transac 
tion,  this  would  have  proven  a  heavy  augmentation  to  his 
means.  But  the  groom  not  unfrequently  demanded  a  little 
•  time,'  even  on  so  precious  a  commodity  as  a  wife,  which  he 
afterwards  forgot  to  pay  for,  or  refused  to  do  so  on  the  ground 
that  the  article  was  not  worth  the  money." 

John  Salmon  located  at  the  place  now  owned  by  Dewitt 
G.  Burr.  At  this  time  the  country  was  literally  a  wilderness, 
and  wild  turkeys,  bears,  and  wolves,  were  more  numerous  than 
white  settlers.  He  used  to  tell  of  bears  climbing  the  trees  on 
Mount  Tom,  for  the  purpose  of  securing  the  nuts.  Some 
times  a  bear  or  catamount,  or  perchance  a  pack  of  wolves, 
would  make  a  raid  upon  his  stock ;  on  which  occasions  he 
invariably  ilew  into  a  towering  passion,  and  pursued  the 
"varmints"  with  fire  and  sword. 

Jeremiah  Sabin  came  to  this  town  about  the  year  1740, 
hailing  from  Pomfret,  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  physical  force,  it  being  asserted,  by  the  mouth 
of  tradition,  that  he  could  hold  a  horse  by  the  head  despite  its 
utmost  exertions  to  free  itself,  and  had  sufficient  strength  in 
his  arms  to  straighten  a  horse-shoe.  He  built  on  lands  now 


260  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

owned  by  Mrs.  B.  H.  Vanderburgh,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Pawling  and  Beekman  Turnpike,  purchasing  about  two  thous 
and  acres.  His  tract  included  most  of  the  land  extending 
west  of  his  residence  to  Whaley  Pond.  He  died  of  pleurisy 
in  the  year  1790. 

William  and  Daniel  Hunt  located  at  the  place  lately 
occupied  by  Samuel  H.  Adee,  now  in  possession  of  Hon.  J.  B. 
Dutcher.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolution  the  "  Siocum  Place," 
— now  the  residence  of  Wm.  H.  Chapman,  Esq.,  was  in 
possession  of  John  Kane,  an  Irishman  by  birth.  Kane  was 
so  mnch  of  a  loyalist  that  he  found  it  necessary  to  go  over  to 
the  British,  and  his  property  was  confiscated. 

The  Pearce  family  trace  their  origin  to  one  John  Pearce, 
a  Welshman,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  about  the  year 
1660.  The  first  one  of  his  descendants  of  whom  we  have  any 
definite  knowledge  was  Nathan  Pearce,  Sen.,  ancestor  of  the 
Pearces  of  the  present  day.  He  came  to  Pawling  about  the 
year  1760,  and  settled  on  the  place  now  owned  by  O.  S.  Dyke- 
man,  Esq.  In  1767  he  purchased  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Nathaniel  Pearce,  where  he  resided  through  most  of  the 
troublous  times  of  the  Revolution.  Two  of  his  sons,  Nathan 
and  William — the  latter  known  as  Col.  William  Pearce — took 
an  active  part  in  the  war  of  the  Colonies  with  the  mother 
country,  along  with  their  father  who  accepted  a  captain's 
commission. 

Captain  Pearce  and  his  volunteers,  who  were  mostly  from 
the  West  Mountain,  were  at  the  battle  of  Long  Island,  and 
participated  in  the  action  at  White  Plains.  He  was  chairman 
of  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  Pawling  Precinct.  This 
committee  had  a  sort  of  discretionary  power  to  arrest 
suspected  Tories ;  to  administer  the  oath  of  allegiance ;  they 
were  also  empowered  to  assess  a  tax  on  those  who  refused  to 
sustain  the  government,  called  the  "  Black  Rate."  The  collec 
tion  of  this  tax  was  both  difficult  and  dangerous.  Nathan 
Pearce,  Jun.,  was  the  collector  of  this,  and  also  of  the  military 
fines  in  this  Precinct.  The  leaders  of  the  Whig  cause  were 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY..  261 

radicals  of  an  unmistakable  character  ;  and  thus  incurring  the 
hatred  of  the  Tories,  the  feud  naturally  led  to  mutual  crimina 
tion  and  recrimination. 

Capt.  Pearce  was  singled  out  by  a  local  Tory  band  as  a 
victim.  In  his  house  were  stored  some  fifteen  or  twenty  guns, 
which  the  Tories  had  resolved  to  obtain.  Capt.  Pearce  then 
lived  in  the  old  house  which  stood  on  the  side  of  the  road  op 
posite  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Dykeman.  One  dark 
night,  about  1 1  o'clock,  Vaughn  and  his  clan  knocked  at  the 
door.  All  had  retired  except  the  hired  girl ;  thinking  it  might 
be  some  neighbors,  she  bade  them  to  come  in.  The  robber 
clan  rushed  in,  commanded  her  to  raise  no  alarm  under  pain  of 
death,  and  lead  them  to  the  Captain's  room.  At  the  first  inti 
mation  the  latter  had  of  their  presence,  Vaughn  was  standing 
over  him  with  fixed  bayonet.  During  this  time  the  rest  were 
rummaging  the  house ;  and  having  found  the  guns,  the  party 
left  without  committing  further  outrage.  The  next  morning, 
Capt.  Pearce  collected  some  neighbors  and  gave  pursuit ;  re 
captured  the  guns,  and  took  Vaughn  prisoner,  but  he  soon 
after  escaped. 

One  pleasant  Summer's  day  Captain  Pearce  went  out  into 
the  fields  to  feed  his  flocks.  The  scene  was  calculated  to  fill 
the  heart  of  a  husbandman  with  gladness,  yet  a  feeling  of 
vague,  undefinable  horror  came  over  him,  although  it  was  mid 
day,  and  he  had  his  trusty  rifle  by  his  side.  Within  a  few  feet 
of  him  was  a  thick  copse,  into  which  he  peered,  but  saw  noth 
ing.  He  afterward  confessed  he  breathed  freer  when  he  left 
that  field.  Shortly  after,  he  received  a  letter  from  one  Brown 
to  this  effect :  "  I  am  now  in  jail,  and  my  life  has  become  for 
feit  to  the  laws  of  my  country.  But  I  once  saved  your  life 
and  it  is  now  in  your  power  to  save  mine."  Brown  then 
related  the  circumstance  of  a  band  of  robbers,  including  him 
self,  having  secreted  themselves  in  Mr.  Pearce's  field  on  a 
specified  day,  in  a  clump  of  bushes  ;  and  that  the  latter  came 
into  the  field  to  feed  his  flock  ;  and  that  Brown  finally  pre 
vailed  upon  the  robbers  not  to  kill  him,  although  they  came 


262  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

there  for  that  very  purpose,  alleging  that  he  could  not  bear  to 
see  an  old  comrade  shot  down  in  cold  blood.  Capt.  Pearce 
was  fully  satisfied  of  the  truth  of  his  declaration,  and  secured 
his  release. 

•Comfort  Sha\v  came  to  the  place  now  occupied  by 
Nathaniel  Pearce,  Esq.,  built  a  house  and  barn,  and  planted  an 
•orchard,  which,  judging  from  the  size  and  appearance  of  the 
trees,  must  have  been  one  of  the  first  in  the  valley.  Shaw 
married  either  the  daughter  or  sister  of  Nathan  Gary,  great 
grandfather  of  the  Carys  that  formerly  resided  here. 

James  Stark,  Sen.,  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  Pawling. 
He  married  the  oldest  daughter  of  Rev.  Henry  Gary,  and  in 
company  with  others,  emigrated  with  his  young  wife  to  the 
Wyoming  Valley  between  the  years  1755  and  '58,  where  he 
died  of  small-pox  in  1777.  His  son,  Gapt.  James  Stark,  partici 
pated  in  the  battle  of  Wyoming,  and  escaped  by  holding  on  to 
the  tail  of  Gol.  Zebulon  Butler's  horse,  and  running  to  the 
fort.  Two  of  the  Starks — Aaron  and  Daniel — were  killed  in 
the  battle,  and  their  names  may  be  seen  inscribed  on  the 
monument  erected  upon  the  spot  where  the  battle  was  fought. 
The  mother  of  Gapt.  James  Stark,  after  the  death  of  her  hus 
band,  started  with  her  little  children  for  Pawling,  leading  her 
youngest  all  the  way,  arriving  after  a  month's  weary  travel  with 
her  little  ilock.  Their  clothing  was  in  tatters,  feet  lacerated 
and  bleeding,  and  were  looked  upon  by  their  friends  as  though 
risen  from  the  dead.  Among  those  that  came  back  to  this 
town,  after  the  Wyoming  massacre,  were  John,  James,  and 
William  Stark,  the  family  of  Michael  Rood,  Solomon  Lee,  Job 
Thornton,  Timothy  Pearce,  Grandall  and  Isaac  Wilcox,  Ezra 
Trim,  and  a  host  of  others.  Job  Thornton  was  an  ancestor 
of  ex-Minister  DeLong,  formerly  of  Beekman. 

Near  where  Airs.  Craft  now  resides,  on  Quaker  Hill,  lived 
one  Peter  Fields,  a  silversmith,  doing  a  small  business.  The 
robbers  made  an  entry  into  his  shop  one  day.  A  number  of 
men  of  the  neighborhood  were  in  there  at  the  time,  but  not 
«.o.ne  of  them  made  an  effort  at  resistance,  except  Benjamin 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  263 

Ferris,  Sen.,  the  Quaker  preacher  Benjamin,  though  a  man 
of  peace,  insisted  on  an  attack  upon  the  villains,  but  was  not 
seconded.  He  was  silenced  by  having  a  blunderbuss  pointed 
at  his  head.  The  robbers  decamped  with  their  booty,  and 
made  good  their  escape  to  the  West  Mountain.  None  of  the 
goods  were  ever  recovered,  and  the  robbery  ruined  the  poor 
silversmith. 

Residing  at  the  place  where  Seneca  Bennett  now  lives  was 
Timothy  Butler.  In  company  with  Capt.  Pearce  and  others, 
he  frequently  made  raids  upon  the  strongholds  of  the  Tories, 
bringing  them  out  from  the  caverns  and  rocks  to  be  dealt  with 
as  the  law  might  direct.  Butler  was  a  proscribed  partriot,  and 
the  robber  band  had  sworn  his  destruction.  His  wife  is  said 
to  have  been  in  complicity  with  a  robber  chieftain,  Nathan 
Hoag  by  name.  She  agreed  to  signal  the  robbers  when  he 
was  at  home,  by  removing  a  portion  of  the  chinking  from 
between  the  logs  contiguous  to  the  bed  where  she  and  her 
husband  slept.  This  agreement  she  carried  out ;  in  the  mean 
time  taking  good  care  of  her  own  precious  person,  while  the 
robbers  slaughtered  her  husband  as  remorselessly  as  they  would 
a  wild  beast. 

The  house  of  an  old  gentleman  named  Burch,  located  at  the 
south  part  of  Quaker  Hill,  was  forcibly  entered  one  night  by  a 
gang  of  robbers,  who,  after  taking  such  articles  as  their  fancy 
dictated  compelled  the  old  gentleman  (at  the  point  of  the  bayo- 
onet)  to  pledge  the  honor  of  a  Quaker  not  to  pursue  them  until 
the  second  day  following.  This  promise,  though  made  under 
duress,  was  scrupulously  kept.  When  the  time  expired  he 
collected  i  posse  of  men  and  pursued  the  robbers  to  the  lines 
of  the  army,  and  there  recognized  the  villains.  One  of  them, 
a  colored  man,  was  then  wearing  Mr.  Burch's  shoes.  A 
handkerchief,  with  Burch's  name  on  it,  was  also  found  in  his 
pocket.  The  proof  was  so  strong  that  Sambo  was  strung  up 
as  a  sort  of  a  scapegoat  for  the  rest  of  the  party. 

A  young  Quaker  lady  from  the  Hill,  while  at  a  distance 
from  home  unattended,  was  stopped  by  "some  minion  of  the 


264  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

moon,"  who,  after  ripping  open  her  portmanteau,  and  abstract 
ing  its  contents,  permitted  her  to  proceed  without  further 
molestation. 

John  Hoag  lived  in  what  was  known  as  the  Porter  House, 
which  stood  near  the  present  dwelling  of  William  J.  Sterling, 
Esq.,  in  the  village  of  Pawling.  One  Herring  was  sent  by 
Washington  to  purchase  supplies  for  the  army,  and  who  went 
to  the  house  of  Hoag  for  the  purpose.  While  there  Herring 
was  made  aware  that  Hoag  had  a  considerable  quantity  of 
silver  and  clothing,  and  with  others  concocted  a  plan  for 
robbing  him,  which  plan  they  a  few  nights  afterwards  executed. 
The  next  day  Hoag  went  to  headquarters,  and  complained  of 
the  robbery,  and  proceeded  to  search  for  the  stolen  goods 
through  the  camp.  Herring  volunteered  to  go  with  him  and 
aid  in  the  search.  Soon  Hoag  noticed  a  towel  sticking  out  of 
the  pocket  of  Herring,  and  straightway  accused  the  latter  of 
the  theft.  Herring  at  first  indignantly  denied  having  anything 
to  do  with  the  robbery,  but  afterward  confessed  his  guilt.  He 
was  tried  by  court-martial,  found  guilty,  and  sentenced  to> 
suffer  death.  The  Commander-in-Chief  declined  to  interfere,. 
and  he  was  accordingly  executed. 

Just  outside  the  fence  near  the  residence  of  Wm.  H.  Chap 
man,  Esq.,  stands  an  old  sycamore  tree  that  a  hundred  years 
ago  was  used  as  a  whipping  post.  One  Thomas  Taylor,  living 
near  Whaley  Pond,  was  charged  with  stealing  a  gallon  of  New 
England  rum.  The  allegation  was  proven,  and  the  culprit 
was  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  three  dollars,  or  in  default  of 
paying  the  fine,  to  receive  ten  lashes  upon  the  bare  back,  "  well 
laid  on."  A  crowd  collected  to  see  the  sentence  carried  out ; 
and  as  Tommy  was  in  no  sense  a  bad  man,  a  sentiment  of 
pity  ran  among  them.  A  hat  was  passed  around,  and  twenty- 
three  shillings  were  collected  forthwith,  when  Tommy  was 
appealed  to  to  make  up  the  remaining  shilling.  This,  strange 
to  say,  Tommy  refused  to  do,  swearing  roundly  that  he  would 
take  the  drubbing  first. 

This  turned  the  current  of  feeling  against  Tommy,  and  he: 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  265 

was  commanded  to  receive  the  sentence  of  the  court.  He 
determined  to  acquit  himself  like  a  martyr,  and  when  the  last 
stroke  was  given,  he  jumped  about  and  knocked  his  heels 
together,  and  defied  any  man  to  say  he  was  not  grit  to  the 
back  bone  ! 

Zachary  Marshall  was  living  about  this  period  on  what  is 
known  as  the  Marshall  farm,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Charlotte 
Cook.  East  of  his  house  was  a  log  barn,  where  he  kept  his 
hay  and  a  portion  of  his  stock.  One  day  his  horse  wandered 
up  the  hill-side,  and  did  not  return  at  foddering  time.  In  the 
night  he  was  attacked  by  a  pack  of  wolves  ;  he  made  all 
possible  speed  for  the  barn,  but  was  overtaken  before  reaching 
it,  and  torn  in  pieces.  This  is  the  only  instance  that  has 
come  to  our  knowledge  of  mischief  perpetrated  in  this  immedi 
ate  neighborhood  by  wolves,  though  we  doubt  not  there  were 
many  similar  cases  throughout  the  county. 

The  "  hard  winter"  came  on  so  severe  and  unexpectedly 
that  it  found  the  people  of  this  and  other  localities  generally 
unprepared  for  it.  Nearly  all  the  grist-mills  were  disabled  by 
the  frosts ;  which  added  to  the  roads  being  blocked  up  with 
snow,  made  it  necessary  for  people  in  many  places  to  resort  to 
hulled  corn  in  place  of  bread.  It  was  said  there  was  fully  four 
feet  of  compact  snow  on  a  level ;  and  the  cold  was  so  intense 
that  not  a  drop  of  moisture  fell  from  the  eaves  in  forty  or 
fifty  days.  Cattle  and  fowls  perished  from  cold  and  the  lack  of 
food ;  and  those  who  had  neglected  to  supply  their  winter's 
wood  had  to  substitute  rails,  shade  or  fruit  trees,  or  whatever 
came  to  hand.  It  was  not  unusual,  after  the  snow  had  melted, 
to  see  stumps  eight  or  ten  feet  high,  although  the  trees  were 
cut  as  low  as  the  snow  would  permit. 

Abraham  Slocum,  living  where  Mrs.  Abbie  Dodge  now 
does,  was  aroused  from  his  slumbers  one  night  by  the  crowing 
of  the  old  chanticleer.  He  awoke  his  wife  that  she,  too,  might 
listen  to  this  joyful  sound  which  had  not  been  heard  for  weeks. 
Slocum  predicted  a  thaw,  which  eventually  came  on  so  gradu 
ally,  that  the  whole  body  of  snow  went  off  without  creating  a 


266  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

flood,  as  was  feared,  and  the  following  season  was  said  to  have 
•been  one  of  uncommon  fertility. 

When  a  herald  passed  through  the  country  announcing  the 
surrender  of  Burgoyne,  the  tidings  met  with  a  hearty  response 
from  every  patriot.  Bonfires,  illuminations,  and  the  thunder  of 
artillery  everywhere  demonstrated  the  joy  that  was  felt  through- 
out  the  land.  The  people  of  Pawling  Precinct  instituted  a 
barbecue  in  commemoration  of  the  event.  A  hole  was  dug  in 
the  bank  near  the  site  of  the  residence  of  Richard  Chapman. 
Esq.,  a  fire  was  built  therein,  and  a  fine  full-grown  bullock  was 
spitted  before  it.  The  cooking  was  not  a  pronounced  success, 
but  Pawling  charged  upon  it  with  all  her  chivalry.  Patriotic 
speeches  were  made,  patriotic  songs  sung,  and  patriotic  toasts 
drank  in  profusion  ;  and  nothing  prevented  the  thundering  of 
cannon,  but  the  want  of  cannon  and  powder.  The  Tories 
growled  with  rage,  but  kept  at  a  respectful  distance. 

Thus  the  day  wore  off.  The  remnant  of  the  carcass  was 
given  to  some  fellows  from  the  West  Mountain,  who,  by  dint  of 
exertion,  managed  to  get  it  about  half  a  mile ;  wearied  with 
their  efforts,  and  unctuous  with  grease  and  perspiration,  they 
laid  it  down  to  discuss  the  matter.  They  finally  concluded  to 
leave  it  till  the  next  morning.  During  the  night  a  pack  of 
hungry  dogs  undertook  the  task  of  demolishing  the  carcass,  and 
struck  a  balance  before  morning. 

Near  the  road,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  north  of  the  residence 
of  the  late  Dr.  Benj.  F.  Arnold,  is  a  clear  bubbling  spring. 
The  grounds  surrounding"  it  were  at  that  time  covered  with 
trees  and  underbrush.  Three  British  troopers  once  stopped  at 
this  spring  to  drink ;  and,  dreaming  of  no  danger,  stacked  their 
arms  a  few  yards  away.  An  American  soldier,  who  lay  hidden 
among  the  bushes,  seizing  his  opportunity,  ran  out  and  took 
possession  of  the  guns,  commanding  the  men,  under  pain  of 
instant  death,  to  surrender.  He  then  marched  them  in  triumph 
to  the  American  camp. 

One  of  the   most   active  and  odious  of  the  Tories  in  these 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  267 

* 

parts  was  Wait  Vaughn.  He  hailed  from  Vaughn's  Neck,* 
near  Lanesville,  Connecticut.  Of  his  early  history  but  little  is 
known.  He  is  said  to  have  been  of  idle,  dissolute  habits  when 
young  ;  the  War  of  the  Revolution  served  to  develop  a  charac 
ter  chiefly  fitted  for  a  marauder ;  and  he  readily  passed  from 
the  commission  of  peccadilloes  to  robbery,  and  from  robbery 
to  arson  and  murder.  As  before  stated,  he  was  once  taken 
prisoner  by  Capt.  Pearce,  and  sent  to  Poughkeepsie  jail ;  but 
he  soon  found  means  to  escape,  having  had  just  enough  pun 
ishment  to  harden  and  prepare  him  for  the  commission  of  still 
greater  atrocities. 

One  cold  winter's  morning  found  him  shivering  over  the 
fire  at  the  house  of  his  uncle,  in  the  town  of  Patterson.  This 
relative,  a  highly  respectable  and  staunch  Whig,  was  almost 
petrified  at  beholding  the  rashness  of  his  nephew,  whom  of  all 
men  he  least  desired  to  see.  Said  he — "  Vaughn,  what  sent 
you  here  ?  Do  you  not  know  it  would  be  my  ruin,  were  it 
known  you  were  at  my  house  ?  Go  from  my  presence,  and 
never  let  me  see  you  again  unless  you  become  a  better  man  !" 

Among  the  local  adherents  of  Vaughn  was  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Kisweli,  an  adroit,  sly  villain,  who  heartily  affiliated 
with  the  robbers  and  shared  in  their  plunder.  He  lived  in  the 
valley  south  or  southeast  of  Alfred  Hillard's. 

Word  was  sent  to  Capt.  Pearce  that  the  robbers  were  at 
Kiswell's,  and  a  company  of  ten  or  twelve  men  were  delegated 
to  go  and  capture  them,  led  by  Lieut.  Nichols.  The  latter  was 
young  and  inexperienced,  and  probably  somewhat  imprudent. 
He  wore  a  white  ruffled  shirt,  which  he  failed  to  conceal  by 
buttoning  up  his  coat  as  he  should  have  done,  which  little  cir 
cumstance  led  to  his  tragic  death.  The  night  was  dark,  and 


*  Wait   Van.irliu  was    t 
house  then  standing  <>n  the  r 
rid-je  of  land  called  Vaughn1 
summer  of  IsTti.     The  house 
three  brothers-  Joseph,  Hen 
Doctor  Vaughn.    The  inothi 
luted  of  the  Doctor  th;it  he  \\ 
mad.-,  to  stand  upon  a  barrel. 
He  was  kept  in  rfcis  situation 
tion.     He  was  afterward  taki 

e   son  of  a  widow,  who,  during  the  war,   was   livinar  in  a 
ad  leading  from  Sherman  to  Lanesville.  on  the  summit  of  s 
Neck.     The   locality   was  pointed   out  to  the  writer   in   th» 
s  gone,  but  a  part  of  the  foundation   yet  remains.      Wait  had 
Miin  and  William.    The  last  named  was  generally  known  as 
and  al  her  sons  were  Tories  of  the  rankest  type"      It  is   re- 
s  once  arrested,  a  rope   adjusted  about  his  neck,   ami   then 
in  order  to  force  him  to  disclose  the  rendezvous  of  his  brothers, 
for  hours,  but  utterly  refused  to  divulye  the  desired  inlorma- 
n  down  and  released. 

268  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

W 

the  robbers  had  somehow  been  apprised  of  their  coming.  As 
they  approached  the  house,  one  of  the  Tories  descried  Lieut. 
Nichols'  white  bosom  ;  taking  deliberate  aim  he  inflicted  a  fatal 
wound  in  young  Nichols'  breast.  The  young  Lieutenant  fell 
in  a  field  of  flax  contiguous  to  the  house,  where  he  wallowed  in 
his  own  gore  until  his  clothing  was  completely  saturated.  He 
was  then  taken  home,  a  bloody,  ghastly  corpse,  to  his  parents. 
His  poor  mother  was  nearly  distracted  with  grief.  During  the 
excitement  consequent  upon  his  death,  the  robbers  made  good 
their  escape. 

Not  long  after  this,  Kiswell  was  captured,  manacled,  and 
placed  under  the  guardianship  of  Ezra  Trim,  a  tried  and  true 
patriot.  In  crossing  a  stream,  Kiswell  managed  to  trip  and 
plunge  Trim  headlong,  wetting  his  ammunition  and  gun  ;  and 
before  the  latter  had  fairly  recovered,  was  out  of  his  reach. 
Trim  snapped  his  gun  at  him  several  times,  but  the  thing  ';  held 
fire,"  and  Kiswell  fled  the  country. 

Capt.  Pearce  was  informed  by  his  spies  that  a  gang  of  rob 
bers  were  secreting  themselves  in  the  cavern,*  about  two  miles 
southwest  of  the  present  village  of  Pawling.  He  immediately 
collected  a  company  of  eight  or  ten  men,  and  stole  a  march 
upon  the  Tories.  He  placed  a  guard  at  the  two  entrances  of 
the  cavern,  and  went  in  a  short  distance  alone.  He  then  gave 
the  signal  to  his  man,  when  they  fell  upon  the  robbers,  and 
captured  them  all.  The  Tories  were  about  equal  in  number  to 
the  other  party  ;  each  captive  was  therefore  tied  around  the 
wrists,  and  placed  under  guard  of  one  man.  In  this  manner 
they  set  out  through  the  woods  adjacent  to  the  cavern.  One 
of  the  prisoners  in  charge  of  Caleb  Haines  (grandsire  of  Rich 
ard  H.  Haines,  Esq.,)  contrived  to  slip  his  tether,  and  escaped, 
much  to  the  chagrin  of  his  conductor.  The  balance  of  the 

*  This  cavern  is  on  the  (arm  of  David  Baker,  Esq.,  in  an  open  field  near  the  foot  of 
"  Rocky  Hill."  It  is  in  a  retired  spot,  .just  the  place  for  the  haunt  of  a  robber  clan  ;  espe 
cially  would  this  bo  true  when  the  locality  was  heavily  wooded,  as  was  doubtless  the  fact 
at  the  time  of  which  we  write.  It  is  quite  a  resort,  in  summer,  for  strangers  visitinjr  in 
the  neighborhood.  There  is  still  quite  a  large  underground  room,  though  pieces  of  detached 
rock  have  somewhat  blocked  up  the  space  within.  Near  by  is  the  Cold  Spring,  a  fountain 
of  the  purest  water,  of  unusual  coldness,  springing  out  from  beneath  a  rock.  During  ft 
freshet,  some  years  since,  a  pewter  basin,  of  IJritish  manufacture,  was  washed  out  of  this 
spring,  having  been  lost,  doubtless,  by  the  Tory  clan  while  here. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  269 

batch  was  sent  to  prison ;  but  through  the  instrumentality  of 
friends  contrived  to  break  jail,  and  were  soon  at  their  old  tricks 
again. 

On  the  top  of  the  hill,  near  the  road  leading  north  of  the 
village  of  Pawling,  and  in  sight  of  it,  stood  a  large  walnut  tree. 
This  "  forest  monarch  "  was  over  a  century  old  when  it  was  cut 
down,  which  was  done  only  a  year  or  so  ago.  Under  this  tree 
tradition  says  a  party  of  Tories  once  held  a  consultation. 
They  had  formed  a  plan  to  rob  the  dwelling  of  Caleb  Haines, 
who  lived  in  a  stone  house  then  standing  opposite  the  marble 
works,  on  lands  of  Richard  Chapman.  But  they  had  found  an 
obstacle  in  the  way  of  carrying  out  their  project.  Caleb  was 
at  home,  together  with  some  of  his  grown-up  sons  ;  besides 
there  were  two  or  three  hired  men  in  the  family.  These  were 
all  armed,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  early  times,  and  ready 
for  a  fight  at  any  moment.  This  array  of  force  threw  dismay 
into  the  Tory  camp,  and  the  project  was  abandoned. 

While  the  army  was  encamped  at  Pawling,  an  Irishman 
was  in  the  habit  of  carrying  fruit  into  the  camp  to  sell  to  the 
soldiers.  One  day  he  had  a  bag  of  apples  on  his  back,  which 
he  was  going  to  dispose  of  in  this  way.  One  of  the  soldiers  mis 
chievously  stepped  up  behind,  and  by  a  sudden  movement 
hurled  the  bag  from  his  shoulder,  at  the  same  time  scattering 
the  apples  upon  the  ground.  Every  man  scrambled  for  an  ap 
ple ;  and  before  the  Irishman  recovered,  his  stock-in-trade  had 
well  nigh  disappeared.  He  complained  to  the  officers  of  his 
treatment,  but  being  unable  to  point  out  the  culprit  who  threw 
the  bag  from  his  shoulders,  he  failed  in  obtaining  redress. 

The  following  extract  is  appended,  copied  from  a  news 
paper  published  at  the  time  : 

Forty  Dollars  Reward  will  be  paid  by  the  subscriber,  besides 
all  reasonable  expenses,  for  detecting  and  bringing  to  justice, 
one  or  more  of  a  gang  of  villians,  eight  or  ten  in  number,  who, 
on  the  night  of  the  lyth  of  August  last,  armed  with  guns,  bay 
onets,  and  swords,  surrounded  the  house  of  Mrs.  Phebe  Thom 
as,  on  Quaker  Hill,  in  Duchess  County,  which  some  of  their 
number  forcibly  entered,  and  after  many  threatening  expres- 


270  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

sions,  robbed  the  subscriber  of  the  following  articles,  viz.,  i8c 
silver  dollars,  28  guineas,  9  half  Johannes,  i  green  silk  purse, 
opening  with  a  spring,  and  large  silver  hook,  and  containing 
between  ^£4  and  ^5  in  small  silver,  with  one  guinea  ;  two 
pairs  of  silver  shoe  buckles  ;  i  silver  table  spoon,  marked  with 
the  letters  R.  M.,  with  a  T.  at  top  between  them  ;  i  small  sil 
ver  snuff-box,  marked  A.  S. ;  i  large  paper  snuff-box  ;  one  sil 
ver  thimble ;  2  penknives  (one  with  a  mother-of-pearl  handle) 
in  cases;  one  carved  ivory  tooth  pick  case  ;  i  lawn  handker 
chief;  one  red  and  white  linen  do.  ;  three  cotton  stockings, 
and  i  pair  of  white  knit  garters.  One  pair  of  buckles  has  been 
found  upon  a  fellow,  who  went  by  the  name  of  Williams,  who 
formerly  used  to  profess  himself  a  painter  in  New  York  ;  was 
lately  taken  up  on  charge  of  some  other  felonies,  and  impris 
oned  at  Kingston,  in  Ulster  County,  from  whence,  on  the  ap 
proach  of  the  British  incendiaries,  he  was  removed  (with  the 
other  prisoners)  into  the  state  of  Connecticut,  wher*e  he  is  now 
confined.  MARY  FERRARI. 

Quaker  Hill,  Nov.  5,  1777. 

In  the  field  south  of  the  road  which  branches  east  near 
the  residence  of  Peter  W.  Baldwin,  Esq.,  and  east  of  the  main 
road,  buttons,  gun  locks,  bullets,  and  even  a  small  cannon  ball 
have  been  plowed  up,  which  would  seem  to  indicate  that  to 
have  been  the  location  of  an  encampment.*"  In  this  field  is  a 
spot  of  low  ground,  that  used  to  be  a  swamp.  Tradition  says 
that  a  quantity  of  ammunition  was  thrown  into  it  on  one 
occasion,  during  an  alarm,  to  prevent  its  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  A  key  of  very  curious  workmanship  was 
picked  up  here.  It  was  shaped  like  a  harp,  and  plated  with 
gold.  On  one  side  was  the  representation  of  a  rose,  and  a 
thistle  on  the  reverse — emblems  of  the  powers  of  England  and 
Scotland.  The  key  was  doubtless  the  property  of  some  officer, 
and  may  have  had  a  history  worthy  of  record. 

On  a  rocky  knoll,  on  lands  of  Elmer  Chase,  Esq.,  was  a 
solitary  grave  marked  with  head  and  foot  stones,  where  tradi- 

*  When  the  road  was  straightened  some  years  since,  near  the  residence  of  Oliver 
Taber,  Esq.,  a  number  of  human  skeletons  were  exhumed.  They  came  from  the  sand 
hank,  through  which  the  road  now  runs,  just  south  of  the  bridge.  The  bones,  supposed  to 
be  those  ot  Revolutionary  soldiers,  were  put  into  a  box  and  re-interred  south  of  the  bridiro. 
near  where  stands  a  maple  tree,  the  first  in  the  row  on  the  west  side.  Its  superior  thrifti- 
ness  is  doubtless  (>\ving  to  its  having  sent  a  root  down  a  nong  these  bones,  from  whence  it 
is  deriving  nourishment. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  271 

tion  says  an  Irishman  was  buried.  He  was  a  sort  of  hanger-on 
of  the  army  while  quartered  here.  Whether  he  died  of  disease, 
or  was  killed,  is  not  known.  Some  years  ago,  a  man  was 
passing  near  the  grave,  when  he  noticed  it  had  been  disturbed, 
and  the  stones  removed.  The  owner  of  the  land  set  some  men 
at  work,  who  dug  down  into  the  grave,  but  could  find  nothing 
except  two  or  three  finger  bones.  The  grave  was  again  filled 
up  ;  and  in  a  few  weeks  the  head  and  foot  stones  were  again 
put  in  place  as  strangely  as  they  were  removed.  This  will 
probably  ever  remain  a  mystery. 

One  of  the  most  atrocious  acts  of  the  Tory  clan  was  the 
robbery  and  murder  of  Nathan  Pearce,  Jun.  One  night  they 
made  a  forcible  entry  into  his  house,  and  before  he  could  take 
means  to  defend  himself,  was  knocked  down  and  beaten  until 
lie  was  insensible.  After  satisfying  their  vengeance  in  this 
manner,  they  suspended  him  by  the  thumbs  to  the  ceiling ;  in 
which  position  he  was  whipped  until  his  back  was  cut  into 
shreds,  and  the  blood  ran  in  a  stream  upon  the  floor.  This 
done,  they  searched  the  house  for  plunder,  took  his  money  and 
clothing,  and  whatever  articles  could  be  converted  into  cash, 
destroying  what  they  could  not  carry  away,  and  decamped, 
leaving  their  victim  more  dead  than  alive.  He  was  taken 
down  and  resuscitated  by  his  family  ;  but  he  never  afterward 
recovered,  and  died  in  a  few  weeks  from  the  effects  of  his  in 
juries.  He  was  the  third  victim  that  the  limits  of  Pawling  had 
furnished  to  the  greed  and  cruelty  of  Vaughn  and  his  robber 
clan.  But  the  robber  chief  was  soon  cut  off  in  the  midst  of  his 
career,  in  a  manner  which  we  will  now  relate. 

Through  the  complicity  of  Peasley,  one  of  Vaughn's  adhe 
rents,  the  Whigs  were  apprised  of  the  presence  of  the  Tory 
robber  in  one  of  his  haunts  in  a  cavern  in  the  rocks.  This 
cave  was  in  a  piece  of  woods,  on  lands  of  the  venerable  Daniel 
Irish  ;  and  thither  a  patriot  band  of  volunteers  was  piloted  by 
Peasley.*  The  latter,  it  appears,  was  acting  quartermaster  of 


*  One  Sarah  Merritt,  whom  many  of  our  readers  will  recollect,  then  living  at  the 
place  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Craft,  used  to  relate  the  particulars  of  this  affair.  She  was 
aware  of  the  intended  attack,  and  heard  the  shots  that  were  fired  into  the  Tory  camp. 


272  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  Tory  camp.  He  would  get  provisions  cooked  at  the  farm 
houses  of  the  neighborhood,  and,  under  cover  of  the  darkness, 
convey  them  to  the  rendezvous.  The  Tories,  unmindful  of 
danger,  were  playing  cards  on  a  flat  rock.  Their  money  was 
staked  ;  and  one  of  them  was  dealing  out  the  cards  when  the 
attacking  party  came  within  gun-shot.  The  volunteers  poured 
a  volley  into  the  robber  band.  The  latter  fled  precipitately, 
with  the  exception  of  Vaughn,  who  was  mortally  wounded.* 
He  seemed  appalled  at  the  fierce  looks  cast  upon  him  by  his 
captors  ;  and,  writhing  with  agony,  with  his  bowels  protruding 
from  the  wound,  he  begged  piteously  for  mercy.  He  appeared 
conscious  that  his  life  was  fast  ebbing  away,  and  plead  to  be 
granted  the  few  moments  that  it  was  possible  for  him  to  live. 

There  was  one  in  that  band  of  volunteers  whose  heart  was 
untouched  by  the  appeal.  That  man  was  Capt.  Pearce.  He 
saw  before  him  an  outlaw,  whose  deeds  of  violence  had  made 
his  name  a  terror  to  the  country ;  and  who  at  that  moment  was 
clad  in  the  garments  of  his  brother  Nathan,  whom  he  had 
murdered.  The  blood  of  the  martyr  to  his  country's  honor 
cried  out  for  vengeance.  Taking  a  gun  from  the  hands  of  a 
soldier,  he  thrust  the  bayonet  into  the  quivering  flesh  of  the 
robber,  the  instrument  passing  entirely  through  the  body, 
striking  the  rock  against  which  he  reclined  with  such  force  as 
to  break  the  point.! 

Vaughn's  remains  were  brought  down  and  laid  under  an 
apple-tree  (still  standing  we  believe)  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Irish.  Here  the  body  was  placed  in  a  wagon  and  conveyed  to 
Toffeys  Corners,  on  Quaker  Hill,  and  his  mother  notified  of 
her  son's  death.  She  came,  bringing  with  her  a  physician, 
probably  under  the  vain  hope  that  her  son  might  only  have 
been  wounded.  She  said  she  was  in  hopes  it  might  not  be  her 
son,  but  on  being  shown  to  the  room  containing  the  corpse, 
and  turning  down  the  sheet  from  his  face,  disfigured  as  it  was, 
with  clotted  blood  adhering  to  his  clothing,  and  presenting  a 

*  It  was  afterward  ascertained  that  another  named  Drinkwater  had  a  finger  shot  off 
at  the  same  time. 

t  Another  version  is  to  the  effect  that  Tfarce  thrust  the  bayonet  into  the  robber  < 
head,  and  pried  it  open. 


OL!>  CATnOT.K    CHURCH,  PAWLING,  BURNED  18T2. 


HISTORY  OF   DUCHESS  COUNTY.  273 

ghastly  spectacle,  she  at  once  recognized  the  lineaments  of  her 
son's  features.  She  gave  a  piercing  shriek,  and  fell  into  a 
swoon. 

The  people  of  the  neighborhood  rendered  her  all  the  con 
solation  it  was  in  their  power  to  give,  and  accorded  the  body  a 
Christian  burial.  The  grave  may  yet  be  seen  in  the  Toffey 
burial  ground — a  little  rural  enclosure,  on  a  rising  knoll  in  the 
valley,  northeast  of  Toffeys  Corners.  His  grave  is  to  the  right 
of  the  bars  leading  into  the  ground.  No  stone  marks  the  spot ; 
only  a  little  mound  indicates  to  the  passer-by  the  resting-place 
of  the  noted  Tory  chieftain.  His  mother  remarked  at  his 
grave  that  in  his  death  she  had  one  consolation — "  he  died  in 
a  good  cause." 

During  the  year  1778  a  considerable  detachment  of  Ameri 
can  troops  were  stationed  in  Pawling,  and  for  a  time  General 
Washington  had  his  head  quarters  here.  Our  authority  for 
this  assertion  is  the  evidence  of  those  living  at  that  interesting 
period,  who  often  went  to  camp  and  saw  the  Commander-in- 
Chief,  and  whose  testimony  has  come  down  to  us  by  tradition. 
The  artillery  were  posted  on  the  eastern  hills  of  Purgatory ;  the 
infantry  were  scattered  along  the  valley  adjacent ;  and  the 
cavalry  were  located  on  the  rolling  lands  north  of  Stedwell's. 
Of  course  all  this  "  pomp  and  circumstance  of  war"  would 
make  but  a  sorry  show  in  this  day  of  ample  means.  The  time 
was,  however,  when  the  man  that  had  seen  the  big  guns,  and 
General  Washington  beside,  had  beheld  about  all  that  was 
worth  seeing. 

As  to  the  precise  location  of  General  Washington's  head 
quarters  when  in  this  town,  there  seems  to  be  some  question. 
Some  locate  it  at  the  "  Slocum  Place,"  and  others  at  the 
"  Kirby  House,"  at  the  foot  of  Quaker  Hill.  There  seems  to 
be  good  authority  for  each  opinion,  and  we  are  inclined  to 
divide  the  honor  between  both  localities.  A  writer  in  the 
Pawling  Pioneer,  who  adheres  to  the  latter  view,  says  : 

"  The  old  Kirby  House  was  built  by  Reed  Ferris  in  1771, 
and  at  the  time  Washington  was  in  Pawling  was  a  new  house. 


274  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Mr.  Ferris  was  a  substantial  farmer,  and  his  house  \\as,  like  his 
means,  large  and  ample.  It  was  then  considered  the  ''biggest 
thing"  for  miles  around,  and  toward  which  Washington 
naturally  turned  his  steps.  Mrs.  Akin,  mother  of  the  late 
Judge  Akin,  and  another  lady,  both  of  them  daughters  of  Mr. 
Ferris,  used  to  tell  the  story  of  its  occupation  in  this  way : 
"  One  day  two  aides-de-camp  rode  up  to  the  door,  and  inquir 
ing  for  Mr.  Ferris  informed  him  that  General  Washington 
would  like  to  make  his  home  there  for  a  time.  Mr.  Ferris 
consented  ;  and  to  notify  all  intruders  that  this  was  the  home 
of  the  Commander-in-Chief,  the  officers  fastened  a  paper  to  the 
front  door  reading  thus  :  '  Headquarters  of  Gen.  Washington.' 
Mrs.  Ferris  and  the  girls  at  once  set  themselves  at  preparing 
the  best  chamber  for  the  General,  and  the  second  best  for  his 
staff  officers,  and  soon  their  illustrious  guest  arrived,  and  was 
shown  to  the  south  chamber,  evermore  to  be  known  as 
Washington's  Room.*  Often  have  I,  though  born  and 
brought  up  in  this  house,  felt  a  mysterious  awe  come  over  me 


Tile  Kiruy   IJ<HIS<-. 

when  entering  this  room  in  which  so  great  and  good  a  man 
once  dwelt.  Here,  probably,  Washington  lived  during  most  of 
his  residence  in  Pawling.  His  soldiers  were  encamped  on 
Purgatory,  hard  by;  and  twenty  years  ago  [1872]  the  remains 
of  three  stone  huts  could  then  be  plainly  seen  ;  and  my  father 
picked  up  a  ramrod  on  this  spot,  which,  probably,  had  once 
belonged  to  some  Revolutionary  hero." 

This  house  has   connected  with  it  other    events  of  great 
historic    interest.     Within  it    was    held   the  trial  of  General 


*Tho  charnb.-r  wind -nv    noarcst  the  tree  in  the   cut  opened  info  the  room.     The 
design  is  Irom  the  Historical  Keeurd. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  275 

Schuyler  in  October  of  1778.     We  append  the  following,  rela 
tive  to  this  officer,  condensed  from  an  article  by  Lossing  : 

The  ambition  of  General  Gates  was  such  as  to  lead  him 
to  seek  honor  and  preferment  by  means  not  always  honorable. 
By  it  he  was  led  to  plot  for  the  position  of  General  Schuyler, 
and  afterward  of  General  Washington  ;  in  which  schemes  he 
was  upheld  by  friends  both  in  and  out  of  Congress.  Doubtless 
some  of  these  friends  were  sincere;  but  there  is  reason  to" 
believe  that  most  of  them  were  actuated  by  other  feelings  than' 
pure  patrotism. 

The  failure  of  the  campaign  of  the  northern  army,  of  which 
Gen.  Schuyler  was  the  chief,  in  the  year  1776,  at  which  time  it 
was  driven  out  of  Canada  with  serious  loss,  was  made  the  occa 
sion  of  bitter  calumny  by  Gates  and  his  friends.  Much  as  the  lat 
ter  desired  to  succeed  Schuyler  in  office,  he  had  not  yet  dared  to1 
make  specific  charges  against  him,  for  no  foundation  for  such 
could  be  found.  Interference  and  complaints  had  already 
made  Schuyler  anxious  to  leave  his  position.  He  had  tendered 
his  resignation,  but  it  was  not  accepted.  There  remained  no 
other  way  than  to  so  increase  his  discontent  as  to  cause  him  to 
leave  the  service. 

Schuyler  was  particularly  sensitive  to  acts  that  savored  of 
injustice  toward  himself  or  others.  His  letters  to  Congress 
was  always  vigorous  and  outspoken.  He  called  the  attention 
of  Congress  to  the  injustice  done  to  the  head  of  the  hospitals 
in  his  department.  His  letter  on  the  subject  was  made  the 
pretext  for  insulting  him  most  grievously.  The  offensive 
paragraphs  in  that  letter  were  as  follows  :  "  As  Doctor  Stringer 
had  my  recommendation  to  the  office  he  has  sustained,  perhaps 
it  was  a  compliment  due  to  me  that  I  should  have  been 
advised  of  the  reason  of  his  dismission,  *  *  *  I  conn-' 
dently  expected  that  Congress  would  have  done  me  that 
justice  which  was  in  their  power  to  give,  and  which  I  humbly 
conceive  they  ought  to  have  done." 

Gen.  Gates,  instead  of  attending  to  the  duties  assigned 
him  by  Washington,  was  in  Philadelphia,  urging  his  friends  in 
Congress  to  stir  up  the  popular  feeling  against  Schuyler,  who 
they  said  had  been  guilty  of  impertinence  in  his  demeanor 
toward  that  body.  They  procured  the  passage  of  a  resolution 
of  censure  as  follows  : 

"Resolvea\ — That  the  suggestion  in  Schuyler's  letter  to 
Congress,  that  it  was  a  compliment  due  to  him  to  advise  him 
of  the  reasons  for  Doctor  Stringer's  dismission  is  highly  deroga 
tory  to  the  honor  of  Congress;  and  that  the  President  be 


376  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

desired  to  acquaint  Gen.  Schuyler  that  it  is  expected  his  letters 
for  the  future  be  written  in  a  style  more  suitable  to  the  dignity 
of  that  representative  body,  of  these  free  and  independent 
States,  and  to  his  own  character  as  their  officer. 

"  Resolved: — That  it  is  altogether  improper  and  inconsis 
tent"  with  the  dignity  of  this  Congre-s  to  interfere  in  disputes 
-subsisting  among  the  officers  of  the  army ;  and  that  the 
expression  in  Gen.  Schuyler's  letter  of  the  4th  of  February 
CI777]  tnat  ne  confidently  expected  Congress  would  have  done 
•him  that  justice  which  it  was  in  their  power  to  give,  and 
which  he  humbly  conceived  they  ought  to  have  done,  were, 
to  say  the  'e  ist,  ill-advised  and  indecent." 

At  that  time  grave  perils  were  impending  and  Schuyler  could 
not  be  moved  by  any  provocation  to  resign  at  that  critic  al 
juncture.  But  he  resolved  on  an  effort  to  obtain  justice.  He 
laid  his  case  before  the  Provincial  Convention  of  New  York, 
then  in  session  at  Kingston,  and  on  the  8th  of  March,  1777, 
he  set  out  to  take  his  seat  in  Congress,  then  in  Philadelphia, 
to  which  he  had  been  elected,  and  to  demand  of  that  body  an 
investigation  into  his  character  while  in  their  service. 

The  plot  now  seemed  to  be  working  favorably  for  Gates. 
Congress  ordered  him  to  repair  to  Ticonderoga,  and  take 
command  there.  It  was  such  a  virtual  superseding  of  Schuyler 
in  the  command  of  the  Northern  Department,  that  the 
ambitious  Gates  believed  that  almost  immediately  he  would  be 
invested  with  that  command.  He  hastened  to  Albany,  while 
Schuyler  was  placed  in  command  of  troops  in  Philadelphia. 

Schuyler  demanded  and  obtained  from  Congress  a  com 
mittee  of  investigation.  He  laid  before  that  committee  a 
clear  statement  of  the  whole  matter,  early  in  May.  His 
dignified  and  unanswerable  statements  made  a  deep  impression 
upon  Congress,  and  silenced  every  cavil.  The  report  of  the 
committee  placed  the  character  of  the  patriot  higher  than 
ever  before.  He  was  ordered  to  resume  command  of  the 
Northern  Department  immediately.  Gates  refused  to  serve 
under  Schuyler.  Hastening  to  Philadelphia,  he  was  allowed, 
on  the  floor  of  Congress,  to  pour  out  his  feelings  in  far  more 
indecorous  language  than  any  which  Schuyler  had  made  use  of. 
Yet  Congress,  under  the  manipulation  of  Gates'  friends, 
endured  the  scolding  with  great  meekness,  and  uttered  not  a 
word  about  the  "  dignity  of  that  body." 

The  loss  of  Ticonderoga  in  the  summer  of  1777  caused  a 
great  hue  and  cry  against  Gen  Schuyler.  He  was  accused  of 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  277 

cowardice,  treason,  and  even  of  the  use  of  the  public  monejr 
for  his  own  private  benefit.  Congress  was  induced,  by  a  force 
of  outside  pressure,  to  appoint  Gates  to  the  command  of  the 
Northern  Department  at  the  moment  when  Schuyler,  by  the: 
most  skillful  maneuvering,  had  placed  Burgoyne  in  a  position 
of  the  greatest  peril.  He  was  prepared  to  strike  the  invaders 
a  crushing  blow,  when  Gates  arrived  and  took  command. 

The  generous  and  patriotic  Schuyler,  though  appreciating 
most  keenly  the  indignity  and  injustice,  laid  aside  his  personal; 
feelings  in  his  effort  to  do  his  country  service  ;  he  even  went 
so  far  as  to  offer  his  service  to  Gates  in  the  capacity  of  a 
private  gentleman,  believing  himself  to  be  better  acquainted 
with  the  condition  of  the  army  at  this  critical  period,  and 
ready  to  give  his  advice  without  any  prospect  of  reaping  any 
of  the  honors  of  victory.  Gates,  however,  treated  him  with 
contempt.  Schuyler  demanded  a  court-martial,  and  after 
repeated  delays,  the  request  was  granted. 

On  the  first  day  of  October,  1778,  the  court  martial 
assembled  to  try  him  at  the  "  Kirby  House,"  then  occupied 
by  Reed  Ferris.  At  the  time  of  the  trial  it  was  the  head 
quarters  of  General  Lincoln,  who  was  President  of  the  Court. 
The  tribunal  was  composed  of  the  following  officers  : 

Major  General  Benjamin  Lincoln,  President ;  Brigadier 
Generals  John  Nixon,  George  Clinton,  Anthony  Wayne,  and 
J.  P.  G.  Muhlenberg  ;  Colonels  John  Greation,  Francis  John 
son,  Rufus  Putnam,  Mordecai  Gist,  William  Russell.  William 
Grayson,  Walter  Stewart,  and  R.  J.  Meigs ;  John  Lawrens, 
Judge  Advocate. 

The  general  charge  made  against  the  accused  was  Neglect 
of  Duty  in  not  being  present  at  Ticonderoga  to  discharge  the 
functions  of  his  command.  It  was  specified  that  the  Northern 
Department  included  Albany:  Ticonderoga,  Fort  Stanwix,  and 
their  dependencies,  and  that  the  act  of  Congress  on  the  22nd 
of  May,  1777.  released  him  from  all  restraint  respecting  the 
place  of  his  headquarters: 

That  by  letters  to  him  by  St.  Clair,  under  various  dates 
from  the  i^th  of  June  to  the  first  of  July,  1777,  he  was  made 
acquainted  with  the  probable  designs  of  the  enemy,  and  of  the 
great  danger  to  the  fort : 

That  in  consequence  of  the  first  three  letters  from  St.  Clair, 
he  went  to  Ticonderoga  on  the  2oth  of  June  and  there  had  a 
council  of  war  ;  and  though  that  council  determined  the  army 
to  be  inadequate  to  the  defense  of  Ticonderoga  and  Mt.  Inde 
pendence,  yet  nevertheless  both  forts  ought  to  be  maintained 


278  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

as  long  as  possible,  and  the  repairs  and  additions  to  the  fortifi 
cations  ought  to  claim  immediate  attention ;  yet  Gen.  Schuyler 
made  no  stay  at  Ticonderoga  to  expedite  the  work,  or  to  con 
duct  a  retreat  when  it  became  no  longer  possible  to  maintain 
the  forts,  consistent  with  the  safety  of  the  troops  and  stores : 

That  Ticonderoga  and  Mt.  Independence  being  the  posts 
of  the  greatest  defense  against  the  advance  of  the  British  forces 
in  Canada,  and  the  main  army  being  stationed  at  these  posts, 
it  was  Gen.  Schuyler's  duty  to  have  been  at  the  head  of  the 
army,  and  to  have  removed  the  troops  when  he  knew  the  enemy 
were  actually  advancing  against  the  forts  : 

That  his  forces  were  greatly  inadequate  to  the  defense  of 
these  posts,  ind  that  they  were  to  be  abandoned  when  it  should 
become  no  longer  possible  to  maintain  them  consistent  with 
the  safety  of  the  troops  and  stores — a  moment  of  which  it  was 
necessary  the  first  officer  in  the  department  should  judge  ;  that 
in  the  absence  of  Schuyler  this  critical  moment  passed  unim 
proved,  with  the  loss  of  the  sick,  ammunition,  cannon,  provi 
sions,  and  clothing  of  the  army,  and  the  loss  of  many  lives  in 
the  retreat. 

Gen.  Schuyler  having  caused  the  verity  of  his  letter  book  to 
be  established,  he  caused  several  letters  to  be  read  therefrom, 
and  then  proceeded  to  conduct  his  defense  in  person.  He 
gave  a  brief  history  of  his  acts  while  in  command  of  the  North 
ern  Department ;  to  these  he  added  an  outline  narrative  of 
events  during  his  last  occupancy  of  office,  St.  Glair's  appoint 
ment  to  the  command  of  the  lake  fortresses,  and  their  evacua 
tion.  He  next  spoke  directly  to  the  specific  charge  of  being 
absent  from  the  post ;  admitted  his  absence,  but  was  prepared 
to  prove  he  was  not  guilty  of  any  neglect  thereby  ;  proposed  to 
show  his  incessant  attention  to  duty,  and  the  reasons  of  his 
absence  from  Ticonderoga ;  and  that  although  superseded  and 
calumniated,  he  continued  his  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  com 
mon  cause,  and  received  frequent  marks  of  the  confidence  of 
Congress.  At  this  point  Gen.  Schuyler  cited  letters  that  had 
passed  between  himself  and  the  committee  of  Congress,  show 
ing  his  entire  devotion  and  attention  to  the  business  of  the 
Department. 

The  trial  lasted  three  days.  Only  three  witnesses  were  called 
viz.  : — General  St.  Clair,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Varick,  and  Ma 
jor  Lansing.  After  Schuyler  closed  his  defense,  the  following 
verdict  was  given  : — 

"The  Court  having  considered  the  charges  against  Major- 
General  Schuyler,  the  evidence,  and  his  defense,  they  are 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  279 

unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  he  is  not  guilty  of  any  Neg 
lect  of  Duty  in  not  being  at  Ticonderoga,  as  charged,  and 
the  Court  do  therefore  acquit  him  with  the  highest  honor." 
Congress  confirmed  the  proceedings  on  the  third  of  December 
following,  directed  them  to  be  published,  and  a  copy  thereof 
transmitted  to  the  Commancler-in-Chief. 

This  verdict  was  expected  by  all.  Congress  continued  to 
refuse  to  accept  the  resignation  of  Gen.  Schuyler,  until  the 
Spring  of  1779,  when  they  allowed  him  to  retire  to  private 
life,  in  which  he  continued  to  serve  his  country  zealously  and 
gratuitously. 

A  writer  in  the  New  York  Standard  thus  speaks  of  Quaker 
Hill:  "  Ea>t  of  Pa.vliig  Sta'io.i,  up  fearfully  long  and  steep 
hills,  bordering  the  State  of  Connecticut,  a  famous  range  of 
hills  are  located,  and  from  their  early  settlement  by  the  Quakers 
derived  the  name  of  Quaker  Hill.  From  their  summits  can 
be  seen  miles  upon  miles  of  first-class  farms,  located  in  the 
States  of  New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  Connecticut.  When 
the  air  is  clear  the  Catskill  Mountain  House,  distant  sixty 
miles  in  the  -northwest,  can  be  seen  without  a  glass.  The 
hotels  of  fashion  at  Lake  Mahopac,  miles  away  in  a  southerly 
direction,  are  distinctly  visible ;  while  at  your  very  feet, 
Pawling  and  Patterson  are  nestling  in  the  valley. 

"  Without  the  tediousness  of  a  long  journey  (only  three 
hours  from  the  city,),  you  are  located  nearly  fifteen  hundred 
feet  above  tide  water, — over  two-thirds  as  high  as  the  Catskill 
Mountain  House,  with  a  view  nearly  equal,  and  a  society  far 
surpassing  that  famous  resort.  The  house  now  used  by  the 
Hicksite  branch  of  Friends,  was  built  in  1764.  During  the 

War  for  Independence  it 
was  used  as  a  hospital,  and 
many  a  noble  soldier  was 
carried  through  its  solemn 

^ssfmf    portals  and  buried  in    what 

rsSS^^^     . 

jttc's  Headquarters.  is  now    the    finest  yard    on 

Quaker  Hill.  Gen.  LaFayette,  in  the  year  1778,  had  his 
headquarters  near  the  meeting  house  or  hospital,  not  far 
distant  from  the  fountain  spring  of  the  Croton.  On  Purga- 


280  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

tory  Hill  the  American  army  was  encamped,  Washington 
having  his  headquarters  near  by  in  a  beautiful  glen,  where  the 
infantile  Croton  gurgles  and  leaps  onward,  gathering  strength  to 
supply  the  thirsty  millions."  The  "  headquarters  of  LaFayette  " 
referred  to  above  was  the  old  house  standing  on  or  near  the 
site  of  the  present  spacious  residence  of  Mr.  Richard  T. 
Osborne.  It  was  built  partly  of  brick  and  partly  of  wood,  and 
was  removed  about  the  year  1858.  Whether  the  Marquis  ever 
actually  established  his  headquarters  there,  we  are  unable  to 
say;  though  traditionary  evidence  strongly  favors  the  assump 
tion.  It  is  a  fact,  however  recorded  in  history,  that  LaFayette 
stopped  in  this  house  for  a  day  or  two.  This  was  on  the 
occasion  of  his  coming  across  the  country  from  Rhode  Island 
to  consult  Washington  on  military  matters  in  general,  and  also- 
in  relation  to  a  duel  he  had  arranged  with  Lord  Carlisle,. 
Chairman  of  the  British  Commissioners,  for  his  disrespectful 
language  toward  the  French.  We  presume  the  cool,  self- 
possessed  commander  had  no  difficulty  in  curbing  the  impetu 
osity  of  the  gallant  young  Frenchman.  When  LaFayette 
visited  this  country  in  1824,  as  the  nation's  guest,  it  is  said  he 
inquired  after  the  old  house  on  Quaker  PI  ill,  and  expressed  a 
strong  desire  to  see  it. 

The  Oblong  Meeting  was  authorized  by  the  Meeting  at  the 
Purchase  in  1744.  From  this  date  until  1757  the  records 
were  kept  on  loose  paper,  and  were  lost.  From  that  time 
(1757)  the  complete  records  of  the  society  have  been  pre 
served  through  a  period  of  nearly  a  century  and  a  quarter. 
Everything  connected  with  the  affairs  of  the  church,  and 
much  pertaining  to  the  life  of  individual  members,  is  recorded 
with  much  minuteness  of  detail,  and  fills  several  large  manu 
script  volumes.  Here  is  a  repository  of  family  history  and 
reminiscences  of  the  dim  past,  worthy  the  research  of  the 
antiquarian.  Visitors  yearly  come  from  far  and  near  to  consult 
them. 

The  Oblong  Meeting  occupies  a  conspicuous  place  in  the 
history  of  the  Society  of  Friends  in  this  county.  Monthly 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  281 

meetings  were  held  here  and  at  Nine  Partners  alternately. 
Their  first  house  of  worship  was  situated  south  of  the  road 
opposite  the  present  Hicksite  meeting  house.  It  was  a  frame 
building  of  moderate  size,  and  was  sold  when  the  present 
church  was  erected,  and  removed  to  the  farm  on  which  Mr. 
Stephen  Osborn  now  resides,  where  it  was  used  as  a  barn. 
This  was  afterward  taken  down,  and  a  part  of  the  timber  used 
in  the  construction  of  another  barn,  now  standing. 

In  1764,  twelve  years  before  the  Revolution,  the  present 
Hicksite  Church  edifice  was  erected.  They  at  first  talked  of 
building  a  brick  church,  but  the  idea  was  abandoned.  Three 
sides  of  this  venerable  structure  is  covered  with  the  same 
material  with  which  it  was  first  constructed;  the  remaining 
one  was  protected  by  shingles,  which  have  been  replaced.  The 
flooring  is  of  solid  oak,  which  is  said  to  bear  the  marks  of  the 
crutches  of  maimed  Revolutionary  soldiers  quartered  here. 

Among  the  records  of  this  church  is  a  list  entitled  "  Friends 
Sufferings."  This  list  contains  a  statement  of  articles  taken 
by  officers  of  the  Government  during  the  Revolution,  with  the 
value  of  the  same,  together  with  the  name  of  the  person  from 
whom  taken,  in  lieu  of  personal  services.  On  the  3ist  of  loth 
month,  1778,  one  ton  of  hay  was  taken  from  Jonathan  Wing, 
by  Sergeant  Wilcox.  About  the  same  time  Eliab  Wilcox  and 
Benjamin  Elliott  took  six  tons  of  hay  from  Nathan  Hillar,  of 

the  value  of  £12,  for  the 
use  of  the  army.  From 
this  it  would  appear  the 
encampment  was  near  at 
hand,  as  so  bulky  an 
article  as  hay  would  hardly 
be  conveyed  a  great  dis- 
e  cam-oil.  tance  ;  which  confirms  the 

statement  already  made,  that  the  army  was  quartered  here  in 
the  season  of  1778. 

A  "  young  creature"  was  taken  from  Nathan  Hillar,  of  the 
value  of  £2,  by  Royal  Dart  and  Isaac  Jones,  Sergeants  ;  also 


282  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

one -cow  by  Nathan  Pearce,  Jun.  He  furthermore  had  his 
oxen  pressed  by  Andrew  Morehouse,  4  days,  125.  In  the 
account  of  Ebenezer  Peaslee's  sufferings,  it  appears  that  Nathan 
Pearce,  Jun.,  took  one  heifer  worth  ^£5,  and  one  cow  valued  at 
^£6,  in  lieu  of  personal  service  ;  Thomas  Corbin  also  took 
three  cows  at  ,£18,  and  six  young  cattle  at  £10. 

The  following  is  the  first  recorded  marriage  found  in  the 
books;  the  ceremony  being  performed  in  the  old  church 
seven  years  before  the  present  one  was  built : 

Whereas,  Joshua  Shearman  [Sherman],  the  son  of 
Ebenezer  Shearman  and  Wait  his  wife,  and  Mary  Soule,  the 
daughter  of  George  Soule  and  Almira  his  wife,  both  of  Beek- 
man  Precinct,  in  Duchess  County,  and  Province  of  New  York, 
having  declared  their  intention  of  marrying  before  several 
meetings  of  the  people  called  Quakers  at  Oblong  and  Nine 
Partners  according  to  the  good  order  used  among  them,  and 
proceeding  therein  after  deliberate  consideration  thereof  with 
regard  to  the  righteous  law  of  God  in  the  case,  they  also  appear 
in  clear  of  all  others,  and  having  the  consent  of  parents  and 
such  as  were  concerned  therein  and  were  allowed  of  by  your 
meeting : 

Now,  these  may  certify  to  all  whom  it  may  concern  that 
for  the  full  accomplishment  cf  their  intention,  this  loth  day  of 
8th  month,  in  the  year  of  Christian  account  1757,  they,  the 
said  Joshua  Shearman  and  Mary  Soule,  appeared  in  a  public 
assembly  of  the  aforesaid  people  and  others,  met  at  Friends 
Meeting  House  in  Oblong,  and  in  a  solemn  manner  he  the  said 
Joshua  Sherman  taking  the  said  Mary  Soule  by  the  hand  did 
openly  declare  as  followeth  : 

Friends,  I  desire  you  to  be  my  witnesses  that  I  take  this 
my  friend  Mary  Soule  to  be  my  wife,  promising  by  the  Lord's 
assistance  to  be  unto  her  a  true  and  loving  husband  until 
it  shall  please  God  by  death  to  separate  us  ;  and  then  and 
there,  in  the  said  assembly,  the  said  Mary  Soule  did  in  like 
manner  declare  as  followeth :  Friends,  I  desire  you  to  be  my 
witnesses  that  I  take  this  .j*iy  friend  Joshua  Shearman  to  be 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  283 

my  husband,  promising  by  the  Lord's  assistance  to  be  unto 
him  a  true  and  loving  wife,  until  it  shall  please  God  by  death 
to  separate  us,  and  as  a  further  confirmation  thereof,  the  said 
Joshua  Shearman  and  Mary  Soule  did  then  and  there  to  these 
presents  set  their  hands,  she  according  to  the  custom  of 
marriage  assuming  the  name  of  her  husband. 

JOSHUA  SHEARMAN. 

MARY  SHEARMAN. 

At  a  monthly  meeting  held  at  Oblong  i6th  of  2nd  month, 
1784,  "Solomon  Bunker,  by  way  of  Apoquaque  Preparative 
meeting,  requested  a  certificate  of  removal  to  the  Creek 
Monthly  Meeting  for  himself  and  family.  Waluntine  Zinkins 
and  Brice  Wing  are  appointed  to  take  the  necessary  care, 
prepare  accordingly,  and  report  at  next  meeting." 

This  ancient  edifice  occupies  a  commanding  position  on  the 
summit  of  Quaker  Hill.  It  is  a  plain  structure,  large  and 
commodious ;  its  frame  is  composed  of  timbers,  of  solid  oak, 
sufficient  material  being  used  in  it  to  construct  three  or  four 
buildings  of  the  size  as  put  up  at  the  present  day.  Here  are 
the  same  benches,  with  their  quaint  high  backs,  in  which  the 
church  fathers  worshiped  a  century  ago.  It  is  provided  with 
a  moveable  partition,  after  the  manner  of  church  edifices  of 
the  sect,  to  separate  the  sexes.  There  is  a  broad  gallery,  with 
its  oaken  seats — the  rear  ones  so  high  from  the  floor  as  to  re 
quire  steps  to  get  up  into  them.  So  much  of  the  space  is  oc 
cupied  by  the  gallery  that  people  seated  in  it  can  scarcely  see 
any  of  the  audience  below.  Over  this  gallery  is  a  trap  door, 
leading  to  the  attic.  Here  tradition  locates  the  rendezvous  of 
a  band  of  robbers  in  the  Revolution.  Here  they  were  wont 
to  secret  their  plunder ;  and  in  this  attic  they  would  gather 
together  their  forces  when  about  to  make  a  descent  upon  the 
neighborhood.  It  is  said  there  were  once  plainly  to  be  seen  a 
number  of  blood  stains  upon  the  timbers,  with  which  it  is  sup 
posed  some  dark  deed  is  connected.  Once  a  couple  of  girls 
were  at  work  cleaning  the  church.  One  of  them  playfully 
remarked  that  she  understood  the  robbers  lived  in  the  attic 
above,  and  proposed  to  take  a  peep  at  the  fellows.  They  pro 


284  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

ceeded  to  the  trap  door,  and  while  one  held  it  up,  the  other 
girl  thrust  her  head  through  the  aperture,  when  lo  !  there  were 
the  robbers,  several  in  number,  who  had  come  together  for  the 
purpose  of  making  a  foray  that  night.  The  terrified  girls  ran 
for  dear  life ;  and  the  robbers,  finding  themselves  discovered, 
came  down  from  their  hiding-place,  pillaged  a  store  in  the 
vicinity,  and  left  before  any  resistance  could  be  offered. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1875,  the  writer  visited  this  venerable 
structure.  Having  with  some  difficulty,  gained  an  entrance, 
the  privilege  of  noting  its  interior  more  than  repaid  the  trouble. 
The  sun  had  sunk  low  down  among  the  western  hills ;  and  his 
parting  rays  entering  the  window,  lighted  the  apartments  with 
a  weird,  unnatural  tinge,  that  harmonized  well  with  the  stillness 
of  the  place.  Here  were  the  prayers  of  many  a  pious  heart 
offered  up  while  this  country  was  but  a  wilderness.  Here  were 
solemnized  the  marriages  of  the  early  pioneers,  and  here  they 
received  instruction  in  the  things  that  pertain  to  the  life  above. 
Memories  of  the  past  cluster  thickly  around  the  objects  in  this 
ancient  building  ;  and  in  the  dim,  uncertain  twilight,  we  almost 
fancied  we  discerned  the  forms  that  have  long  laid  in  the  tomb, 
and  heard  their  voices  echoing  in  the  gathering  shades. 

Tradition  says  that  once  upon  a  time,  while  a  Sabbath  ser 
vice  was  being  held  in  this  church,  a  company  of  Continental 
soldiers  marched  up,  stacked  their  arms  before  the  door,  and 
then  went  quietly  in  and  took  their  seats  among  the  audience. 
When  the  meeting  was  ended,  and  the  congregation  had  dis 
persed,  the  soldiers  removed  the  benches,  and  took  formal 
possession.  This  was  at  the  time  it  wa§  used  as  a  hospital  in 
the  war  for  independence,  already  mentioned.  Without  doubt, 
these  walls  have  resounded  with  the  groans  of  the  wounded 
and  dying  ;  they  have  witnessed  the  ebbing-away  of  the  life  of 
many  a  patriot  soldier,  whose  body  was  borne  from  these  portals 
to  the  soldiers'  burying  ground  opposite,  where  his  dust  still 
moulders,  unmarked  and  unnoticed  by  the  passer-by,  for  whom 
his  life  was  bestowed.  It  is  stated  an  epidemic  prevailed  in 
camp  when  the  soldiers  occupied  the  adjacent  Purgatory  Heights 


HISTORy  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  285 

and   the   sick  were  all  conveyed  here,  where    many  of  them 
died. 

We  made  a  passing  visit  to  the  legendary  attic,  but  saw  no 
robbers  there ;  neither  did  the  closest  scrutiny  reveal  any  of 
the  blood  stains  upon  the  timbers.  The  only  light  of  the 
apartment  was  admitted  through  two  small  windows  at  either 
end  ;  but  it  sufficed  to  reveal  now  and  then  the  work  of  some 
ancient  spider  who  could  here  spin  his  web  undisturbed ;  while 
the  numerous  heavy  beams  and  purlines,  braced  and  secured 
in  every  direction,  give  a  hint  why  the  lapse  of  time  and  the 
storms  of  a  century  do  not  have  a  greater  effect  upon  the  old 
building.  Long  may  it  stand,  a  cherished  monument  of  the 
gratitude  of  a  people  to  the  sturdy  patriots  of  the  Revolution. 
But  the  gathering  darkness  admonishes  us  to  leave  the  historic 
structure,  and  once  more  we  mingle  with  the  busy  world 
without. 


LOCAL  EVENTS  AND  TRADITIONS. 

A  gunsmith  by  the  name  of  Harrington  once  carried  on  the 
manufacture  of 'guns  and  rifles  at  Hurds  Corners.  He  was  a 
good  mechanic,  and  withal  reputed  to  be  an  excellent  marks 
man.  He  made,  while  here,  two  rifles  of  superior  workman 
ship,  receiving  $500  for  each.  They  were  used  in  a  noted  duel 
between  two  southern  gentlemen. 

A  marsh  near  the  borders  of  Little  Pond  is  named  the 
Ghost's  Swamp,  from  the  fact,  so  it  is  said,  that  a  ghost  once 
frequented  it.  Near  this  swamp  a  little  cabin  was  built,  in 
which  a  man  took  up  his  solitary  abode  ;  but  the  ghost  so 
troubled  him  that  he  was  forced  to  leave.  At  night  there 
would  be  unearthly  noises  and  groans  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
house  ;  and  in  the  day-time  the  tops  of  the  adjacent  trees 
would  sway  to  and  fro  as  though  a  terrible  tempest  was  abroad 
when  all  was  quiet  elsewhere. 

Not  far  from  the  old  road  leading  over  the  mountain  is  the 
stump  of  what  was  known  as  the  "  Gallows  Tree."  Tradition 


286  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

gives  the  origin  of  this  name  as  follows  :  During  one  of  the 
early  wars,  a  British  officer,  who  was  said  to  have  in  his  pos 
session  a  large  amount  of  money,  obtained  by  robbery,  was 
lurking  in  this  vicinity.  He  was  seen  in  a  meadow  adjoining 
another  road  on  the  mountain,  and  was  observed  to  have  a 
large  amount  of  specie  in  a  bag.  A  party  was  collected  and 
pursuit  given.  The  British  trooper  tried  in  vain  to  escape, 
and  was  overtaken  near  this  tree.  He  had  found  means,  how 
ever,  to  secrete  the  bag  of  money  somewhere  on  the  way.  His 
captors  used  every  means  in  their  power  in  the  effort  to  per 
suade  him  to  reveal  its  hiding  place,  even  to  the  promise  of 
being  restored  to  his  liberty,  but  to  no  purpose.  As  a  last  re 
sort,  they  placed  a  rope  about  his  neck,  and  threw  the  other 
end  over  the  limb  of  a  tree.  Three  or  four  lusty  fellows  took 
hold  of  the  rope,  and  drawing  up  the  slack,  repeated  the  ques 
tion  to  their  captive.  To  this  he  returned  no  satisfactory  an 
swer  ;  which  so  exasperated  them  that  they  pulled  away 
in  good  earnest,  and  left  him  suspended  between  heaven 
and  earth.  His  body  hung  there  until  the  following  day,  when 
it  was  taken  down  and  interred.  Although  the  locality  has 
been  thoroughly  searched,  no  one  has  ever  found  the  secreted 
money. 

In  the  vicinity,  and  near  the  turnpike,  are  situated  what  are 
locally  known  as  the  "  Robber  Rocks."  A  cave  in  these  rocks, 
now  nearly  filled  with  debris,  was  said  to  have  been  used  by 
the  robbers  in  Revolutionary  times  as  a  hiding  place  for  stolen 
property.  And  even  now  the  rustic  wayfarer  eyes  the  locality 
with  a  superstitious  dread  when  obliged  to  pass  in  the  vicinity 
alone  in  the  night  time. 

Near  the  eastern  borders  of  the  town  is  a  wooded  eminence 
called  Woolman.  On  the  west  side  of  this  is  a  precipice  over 
forty  feet  in  perpendicular  height.  A  man  named  Donovan 
recently  fell  from  this  precipice,  in  a  drunken  fit,  as  was  sup 
posed  ;  his  body  lay  among  the  rocks  at  the  bottom  for 
several  months  ;  when  found  it  was  decomposed  beyond  recog 
nition,  and  only  from  articles  found  in  his  pockets  were  the 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  287 

remains  identified.  Hard  by,  years  ago,  the  body  of  one 
McCoy  was  found,  who  perished  here  while  endeavoring  to 
cross  by  this  lonely  path  one  bleak  winter's  night.  He  was  an 
old  man  and  becoming  bewildered  in  the  blinding  snow,  doubtless 
stumbled  and  was  unable  to  rise.  His  cries  for  assistance  were 
in  all  probability  heard  by  a  man  passing  on  a  neighboring 
road.  He  distinctly  heard  what  he  at  first  thought  was  a  hu 
man  voice  in  distress;  but  the  wind  being  high,  and  the 
sounds  not  being  repeated,  he  construed  it  into  the  cry  of  an 
owl.  When  the  body  was  found  in  the  spring,  the  gentleman 
recalled  the  circumstance;  when  it  was  ascertained  that  the 
elite  of  McCoy's  disappearance,  and  the  locality  in  which  his 
body  was  found,  all  went  to  confirm  this  supposition  ;  and 
had  his  cries  been  heeded  the  old  man's  life  might  have  been 
saved. 

Within  a  few  feet  of  the  spot  where  Donovan  fell  is  a 
roomy  cave  in  the  rocks.  In  this  cave  a  hermit  years  ago 
made  his  home.  He  would  beg  provisions  of  the  neighboring 
farmers,  and  then  retire  to  these  solitudes  until  hunger  again 
forced  him  to  go  forth.  A  party  of  coon  hunters  were  out 
one  night,  and  their  dog  led  the  way  to  this  cave,  and  com 
menced  barking  violently  at  the  opening,  but  appeared  afraid 
to  enter.  The  hunters  approached  the  spot,  and  under  the 
impression  that  some  wild  animal  of  sufficient  ferocity  to 
frighten  the  dog  was  lurking  within,  they  pointed  their  guns 
into  the  cave  and  fired.  Just  as  they  pulled  trigger,  but  too 
late  to  change  their  purpose,  a  human  voice  within  shouted — 
"  Don't  shoot."  Terrified  beyond  measure,  thinking  they 
might  have  killed  some  human  being,  they  fled  from  the  spot 
and  sought  their  homes.  The  next  day  they  returned,  under 
the  expectation  of  finding  a  mangled  corpse,  or  at  least  some 
person  fatally  wounded  ;  but  to  their  relief  no  signs  of  a  human 
being  appeared,  neither  were  any  blood  marks  found  within  the 
cavern. 

In  the  Toffey  burying  ground  on  Quaker  Hill  is  the  grave 
of  an  unknown  man,  who  met  his  death  in  this  immediate  vicini- 


288  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

ty  under  the  following  circumstances  :  A  stranger  was  traveling  on 
horseback ;  when  near  the  bridge  in  the  hollow  east  of  Toffeys 
Corners,  the  horse  fell,  and  so  injured  his  rider  that  his  death 
followed  in  a  few  hours.  The  stranger  was  unconscious  from 
the  moment  of  his  injury;  and  as  nothing  was  found  upon  his 
perse n  which  would  aid  in  identifying  him,  it  was  impossible  to 
ascertain  his  name,  or  from  whence  he  came.  His  horse  was 
sold  to  defray  the  expenses  of  his  burial,  and  his  remains  were 
deposited  in  this  rural  grave-yard.  No  one  ever  appeared  to 
claim  the  body,  and  his  nativity  is  still  a  mystery. 

On  the  place  now  in  possession  of  Martin  Mclntyre  was 
once  an  Indian  burial  ground.  It  was  afterwards  used  by  the 
early  white  settlers  for  the  same  purpose.  The  graves  were 
long  ago  obliterated  by  the  plow.  Many  of  the  head  and  foot 
stones  were  laid,  it  is  said,  in  the  cellar  wall  of  the  house  on 
the  premises. 

North  of  the  Oblong  Pond  are  the  ruins  of  a  rude  stone 
hut,  in  which  a  man  named  Hawley  once  lived,  with  no  com 
panions  but  a  brood  of  chickens.  One  cold  winter  night,  find 
ing  the  shelter  of  his  cabin  insufficient,  as  is  supposed,  he 
started  across  the  pond  to  go  to  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  as  he 
was  accustomed  to  do  when  the  weather  was  unusually  severe, 
but  he  never  reached  his  destination.  His  body  was  found 
the  following  Spring  under  a  snow  drift  on  the  side  of  the  pond 
opposite  his  cabin. 

There  are  yet  visible,  along  the  ridge  of  the  mountain  in  the 
western  part  of  the  town,  the  foundations,  cellars  and  portions 
of  the  chimneys  of  numerous  dwellings  and  outbuildings, 
which  have  long  since  gone  to  decay.  Not  unfrequently  one 
meets  with  old  wells,  and  occasionally  an  apple  or  other  fruit 
tree,  together  with  medicinal  herbs  springing  up  about  old 
crumbling  walls.  These  herbs  appear  to  have  been  carefully 
cultivated  in  olden  times,  as  they  are  generally  found  in  the 
vicinity  of  old  dwellings.  On  lands  of  Abel  Smith  is  an  an 
cient  burial  place.  The  graves  are  marked  with  rough  stones 
taken  from  the  fields.  Trees  several  inches  in  diameter  are 
growing  from  the  mounds,  which  would  indicate  this  to  have 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  289 

been  long  ago  neglected.  The  location  of  this  burying  ground 
is  in  the  borders  of  the  woods,  remote  from  any  real ;  and  so 
secluded  from  the  busy  world  that  the  sleep  of  the  dead  must 
be  undisturbed.  Who  are  buried  here,  and  what  the  story  of 
their  lives,  we  are  unable  to  say,  as  history  and  tradition  are 
both  silent. 

Near  by  is  the  site  of  the  Lake  House,  once  the  residence 
of  a  family  of  that  name.  The  cellar  is  partly  filled  up,  and 
briars  and  brambles  grow  luxuriantly  about  it.  Once  a  number 
of  roystering  lads  and  blushing  damsels  of  the  neighborhood 
were  gathered  here  for  an  evening's  frolic.  As  the  night  wore 
on,  the  company  grew  more  boisterous,  and  the  "  flowing  bowl" 
was  the  more  freely  circulated.  One  of  the  party  was  a  colored 
man  named  Cato  Grant,  once  a  slave  of  the  Grant  family.* 
He  lived  under  the  hill ;  the  site  of  his  cabin  may  yet  be  seen 
a  few  rods  west  of  Abel  Smith's  residence.  Cato  had  imbibed 
too  freely  as  well  as  the  rest ;  and  when  the  party  broke  up,  he 
in  the  overflowing  of  his  heart  invited  the  whole  company  to 
ride  with  him.  As  he  was  on  horseback,  the  capacity  of  his 
conveyance  was  not  equal  to  the  magnanimity  of  his  soul. 
Three  strapping  fellows  beside  himself  bestrode  the  poor  horse, 
and  started  down  the  hill.  The  animal  had  much  ado  to  stag 
ger  along  under  his  load ;  while  winding  down  the  path  through 
the  woods  they  lost  their  way,  ran  their  horse  off  a  ledge,  and 
down  they  went,  horse  and  riders,  crashing  to  the  bottom. 
The  horse  was  killed  by  the  fall ;  the  men  escaped  without 
serious  injury.  The  party  were  now  perforce  to  make  the  rest 
of  their  journey  on  foot — an  undertaking  which  cost  them 
some  labor  and  not  a  few  tumbles  among  the  rocks  before  they 
reached  the  clearing  below.  Afterwards,  when  Cato  was  con 
doled  with  on  the  loss  of  his  horse,  he  replied  with  the  utmost 
nonchalance  that  the  animal  did  not  cost  him  anything — he 
worked  and  paid  for  it. 

At  the  foot  of  Cobble  Hill  is  a  cave.  Some  farm  laborers 
were  once  at  work  near  by,  and  took  refuge  in  it  during  a  sud- 

*  The  Grants  lived  near  where  Alex.  H.  Arnold  now  resides.  A  part  of  the  ol<> 
Grant  House  is  still  standing. 


290  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

den  shower.  While  there,  they  distinctly  heard  a  voice  sum 
moning  them  to  dinner,  which  they  thought  very  strange,  as  the 
farm  house  was  fully  a  quarter  of  a  mile  away,  and  it  was  not 
quite  eleven  o'clock.  They  answered  the  call ;  but  on  arrival 
at  the  house,  found  no  such  summons  had  been  given.  The 
laborers  supposed  themselves  to  have  been  temporarily  under 
the  influence  of  the  gnome  who  was  believed  to  inhabit  the 
cavern. 

A  few  years  since,  east  of  the  Watts  burying  ground,  north 
of  the  highway,  a  solitary  headstone  marked  the  last  resting 
place  of  a  Revolutionary  soldier.  A  man  was  found  dead  on 
the  north  side  of  a  barn  on  the  Grant  place,  where  he  proba 
bly  perished  from  cold  and  exposure.  He  was  buried  by  the 
side  of  the  soldier.  The  stone  was  removed,  and  the  grave 
obliterated  by  the  plow,  a  few  years  ago. 

On  the  south  side  of  Purgatory  Hill  are  [1876]  two  or 
three  clusters  of  stones  which  are  pointed  out  as  the  "  ovens" 
put  up  by  the  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  nearly  a  century  ago. 
Near  the  Putnam  County  line  is  a  wide  and  deep  part  of 
the  Croton,  locally  known  as  the  "  Souse  Hole."  This  poetic 
name  is  given  it,  so  tradition  says,  in  consequence  of  the  cus 
tom  of  the  earlier  inhabitants  playfully  sousing  each  other  into 
the  water  here.  An  adjacent  locality  enjoys  the  euphonious 
title  of  the  Devil's  Hollow — why  so  named  can  only  be 
surmised. 

The  ancient  house  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Kitchen  was  in  former  times  used  as  a  hotel,  kept  by  one 

Benj.  Sherman.  Tr.e 
old  stone  house  on 
the  turnpike,  near 
where  the  road 
branches  off  towards 
Whaley  Pond,  was 
also  a  hotel,  where 

Tom  Howard's  Hotel.  town     elections      Were 

held.  The  old  house  on  the  farm  of  Perry  Ferris,  Esq.,  is  said  to 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  2QI 

have  been  formerly  used  as  a  tavern.  The  house  now  belong 
ing  to  George  Smith,  Esq.,  is  probably  among  the  oldest  houses 
in  the  town.  An  old  resident  of  the  neighborhood  died  some 
twenty  years  since  at  the  age  of  eighty ;  he  used  to  speak  of 
attending  a  school  in  the  south  room  of  this  house  when  he 
was  a  boy,  and  he  said  it  was  a  very  old  house  at  that  time. 

The  cut  on  preceding  page 
represents  Tom  Howard's  Tav 
ern  ;  the  house  was  taken  down 
in  the  Summer  of  1876  to 
make  room  for  the  Central 
Pawling  Baptist  Church.  This 
inn  was  quite  a  noted  place  a- 
half  century  ago.  Howard  owned  an  extensive  tract  of  land 
lying  south  of  the  main  road  running  east  and  west  through 
the  village.  The  land  north  of  this  road,  and  on  which  most 
of  the  village  is  situated,  was  the  property  of  Caleb  Haynes. 
The  sites  of  two  burial  places  are  included  within  the  limits  of 
the  village :  one  is  located  south  and  southwest  of  the  Na 
tional  Bank  building ;  the  Pawling  Hotel  property  includes 
the  other,  which  was  known  as  the  Haynes  burying  ground. 
A  young  lady  is  said  to  have  been  buried  here  who  died  of  a 
broken  heart.  The  remains  of  eleven  members  of  the  Haynes 
family  were  taken  from  this  ground,  put  together  into  one 
coffin,  and  reinterred  in  the  Pearce  burial  ground,  on  lands  of 
Mr.  Dykeman,  where  the  headstones  may  be  seen,  set  close 
together,  forming  three  sides  of  an  enclosure. 

It  is  related  that  two  men,  named  Evans  and  Griffin,  were 
sitting  up  to  watch  a  corpse  one  night  at  a  house  on  the  moun 
tain.  As  the  hours  wore  on,  and  conversation  lagged,  they 
concluded  a  little  liquor  would  not  be  objectionable.  To  pro 
cure  this  it  was  necessary  to  go  to  the  house  of  a  neighbor 
some  half  mile  distant ;  which  task  Griffin  volunteered  to  per 
form  while  his  companion  watched  with  the  corpse.  Griffin 
was  gone  so  long  on  the  errand  that  Evans  began  to  suspect 
foul  play,  as  the  former  might  readily  drink  it  all  up,  and  then 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

pretend  that  he  could  not  procure  any.  Evans  was,  therefore, 
the  victim  of  conflicting  emotions ;  he  was  on  the  point  several 
times  of  starting  out  to  look  up  his  delinquent  companion,  but 
as  often  bethought  himself  of  his  duty  not  to  leave  the  dead 
body ;  at  length  a  bright  idea  struck  him,  and  taking  the  dead 
man  upon  his  shoulder,  he  started  with  his  burden  cut  in  the 
darkness,  and  soon  met  his  fellow  watcher,  coming  back  with 
the  coveted  liquor. 

Pawling  can  boast  of  having  had  its  haunted  house,  its  resi 
dent  witch,  and  its  full  quota  of  ghosts.  A  journeyman  hatter 
•engaged  rooms  at  the  S —  —  Place.  Having  occasion  to  go 
down  into  the  cellar  one  day,  he  there  observed  two  empty 
hogsheads,  apparently  new.  He  noticed  them  the  more  par 
ticularly  as  he  wished  to  procure  the  loan  of  one  in  which  to 
put  his  vinegar.  He  met  the  owner  of  the  house  a  day  or  two 
afterward,  to  whom  he  mentioned  the  matter  of  the  hogshead, 
and  stated  his  request.  "  Why/'  said  the  landlord,  "  I  never 
had  a  hogshead  in  that  cellar ;  and  more  than  that,  there  i?  no 
door  large  enough  to  admit  of  putting  one  in."  The  journey 
man  thought  very  strange  of  the  matter,  but  determined  to 
look  once  more  for  himself.  On  going  into  the  cellar  again, 
not  a  vestige  of  a  hogshead  could  be  seen,  nor  a  door  wide 
enough  to  admit  of  anything  larger  than  a  butter  firkin.  The 
poor  fellow  lost  no  time  in  picking  up  his  things  and  moving 
into  less  suspicious  quarters. 

There  was  a  noted  witch,  Mrs.  Lamb  by  name,  who  lived 
near  the  stone  house,  on  the  turnpike,  not  far  from  the  Beek- 
man  line.  She  used  to  appear  to  the  early  residents  in  various 
shapes,  sometimes  as  an  animal,  and  again  as  a  bird,  as  best 
suited  her  purposes.  She  used  sadly  to  interfere  with  the 
neighboring  farmers  when  they  were  winnowing  their  wheat,  by 
causing  a  lull  in  the  wind  just  at  the  moment  when  they  wanted 
it  to  blow  the  hardest. 

Mrs.  Johnson,  wife  of  the  Baptist  preacher,  was  not  a 
believer  in  witchcraft,  and  openly  told  Mrs.  Lamb  she  was  an 
imposter.  The  witch  happened  at  the  parsonage  one  day, 


HISTORY    OF   DUCHESS   COUNTY. 

while  Mrs.  Johnson  was  engaged  in  weaving.  AH  at  oncer 
without  any  perceptible  cause,  the  yarn-beam  flew  out  upon  the 
floor.  She  expected  to  find  the  threads  all  broken  ;  the  witch 
assisted  her  in  putting  it  again  in  place,  when  it  was  found 
that  not  a  thread  of  the  warp  was  broken,  or  out  of  place. 
The  witch  then  asked  with  a  sly  twinkle  of  the  eye,  if  she 
"believed  now  in  witchcraft?"  Mrs.  Johnson  afterward 
admitted  that  there  was  something  about  that  occurrence 
which  she  could  not  account  for. 

Doctor  Prosser  was  quite  a  character  in  early  times.  He 
was  of  part  Indian  blood ;  his  medicines  consisted  mostly  of 
roots  and  herbs  of  his  own  gathering ;  and  he  was  usually 
spoken  of  as  the  Indian  Doctor.  The  site  of  his  house  may 
yet  be  distinguished  on  lands  of  David  Baker,  Esq.  He  was: 
not  versed  in  the  materia  medica  as  taught  in  the  schools ;  but 
he  acquired  a  great  reputation  as  a  successful  physician.  It 
is  said  he  was  in  the  habit  of  experimenting  with  animals  and 
birds,  in  order  to  observe  the  effect  of  medicines.  He  was 
called  upon  to  visit  a  man  who  lay  at  the  point  of  death  in 
Beekman.  His  attendant  physician  had  given  him  up  to  die  ; 
and  the  poor  fellow  had  himself  lost  all  hope  of  recovery. 
When  Prosser  reached  his  bedside  he  enquired  of  him  how  he 
was.  "  Oh,"  said  he,  despairingly,  "  I  am  dead,  dead  !"  The 
Doctor  without  further  ceremony  got  up,  left  the  house,  and 
proceeded  on  his  way.  When  questioned  as  to  row  his 
patient  did,  he  replied  that  he  was  dead.  As  the  man  was 
poor,  the  neighbors  took  upon  themselves  the  task  of  providing, 
for  his  burial.  The  undertaker  soon  arrived  at  the  house  with 
a  shroud  and  coffin,  where  he  was  met  with  the  information 
that  the  man  was  yet  alive.  Prosser  was  again  sent  for,  and 
questioned  as  to  his  purpose  in  circulating  such  a  falsehood.. 
"  Why,"  said  he,  "  I  had  the  sick  man's  word  for  it,  he  told  me 
he  was  dead  !"  He  then  set  himself  to  the  task  of  treating  the 
man,  and  succeeded  in  restoring  him  to  health. 

Elder  John  Lawrence,  a  pioneer  Baptist,  began  to  preach 
in  this  town  about  the  year  1770,  six  years  before  the  Revolu- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

lion.  In  1775,  a  f~ew  members  were  organized  into  a  church, 
•which  flourished  under  his  care  for  about  ten  years.  They 
'were  destitute  of  a  pastor  for  a  time,  and  then  Elder  Phineas 
.Clark  came  among  them,  continuing  his  labors  here  about 
three  years.  One  year  afterward,  Elder  Nehemiah  Johnson 
began  to  preach  ;  he  was  ordained  their  pastor,  and  served 
them  thirty  years;  during  which  time  peace  and  harmony 
prevailed.  They  owned  a  house  of  moderate  size,  situated  on 
the  top  of  the  mountain.  They  found  it  "  easy  breathing  in 
prayer  on  this  high  ground  where  they  worshiped."  The  church 
prospered,  and  increased  to  ninety  members.  In  1841  they 
were  visited  and  revived  by  Elder  Thomas  Stokes,  a  county 
missionary.  In  the  minutes  of  1843,  we  read  of  this  church: 
"  They  worship  in  a  union  meetinghouse  one  half  the  time, 
.•and  in  a  schoolhouse  the  other  half.  The  venerable  Father 
Johnson  still  lives  ;  and  now  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
Ihree,  visits  among  them  as  a  father  among  his  children.  He 
has  always  been  an  example  of  Christian  piety,  and  universally 
:beloved.  His  head  is  blossoming  for  the  grave,  and  he  himself 
ripening  for  a  glorious  immortality." 

The  Johnson  meeting  house  was  situated,  as  before 
observed,  on  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  near  the  "Dug- 
way"  road.  It  was  a  plain  edifice,  built  of  wood,  and  was 
never  painted.  A  gallery  extended 
around  three  sides  of  it ;  the  pulpit, 
which  was  about  as  high  as  the 
gallery,  occupied  the  remaining  side. 
There  were  never  any  pews — only 
benches,  and  planks  laid  across 
Johnson  Meeting  House.  supports.  At  first  it  had  no  stove; 
;ihe  people  brought  along  their  foot-stoves  in  very  cold  weather 
,and  sat  out  the  services  in  the  cold  and  cheerless  church. 

In  favorable  weather  it  was  not  unusual  to  see  two  hundred 
people  present  at  the  regular  Sabbath  services.  Some  came 
•ifi'om  Dover,  Beekman  and  Patterson,  walking  a  distance  of 
.six  miles  and  more.  Part  way  down  the  west  side  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  295 

mountain  a  path  branches  off  north  from  the  turnpike,  which 
led,  in  former  times,  through  the  woods  to  the  Johnson  Meet 
ing  House.  This  was  called  the  "  Christians'  Walk,"  as  the 
early  worshipers  from  the  southwest  part  of  the  town  took 
this  path  when  going  to  and  from  church. 

The  meeting-house  stood  in  the  borders  of  the  wood,  and 
was  partially  shaded  by  venerable  forest  oaks  and  chestnuts ; 
from  among  whose  branches,  of  a  quiet  summer's  day,  the 
noise  of  the  locusts  and  wood-birds  would  issue,  and  mingle 
with  the  sounds  of  prayer  and  praise  within  the  little  sanctuary. 
And  ever,  as  the  audience  was  dismissed,  groups  of  people 
could  be  seen,  all  attired  in  their  Sunday  best,  threading  their 
way  in  every  direction  down  the  mountain  sides,  separating 
into  pairs  and  single  travelers  as  they  neared  the  foot,  each 
seeking  his  place  of  abode.  This  church  and  society  is  now 
known  as  the  First  Pawling  Baptist  Church,  at  Whaley  Pond. 

There  is  a  lack  of  authenticated  material  touching  the 
early  history  of  the  Methodist  denomination  in  this  town.  A 
Rev.  Mr.  Thatcher  of  Poughkeepsie,  is  believed  to  have  been 
the  first  of  that  sect  that  preached  here;  the  first  sermon  was 
preached  in  the  old  Haynes  house,* — near  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  which  stood,  until  within  a  dozen  years,  about 
half  a  mile  west  of  the  village  of  Pawling.  He  sent  out  the 
appointment  by  Col.  Wm.  Pearce ;  a  large  and  attentive 
congregation  came  to  hear  him.  This  was  the  germ  of  the 
Methodist  church  here.  Meetings  were  kept  up  from  that  time 
forward  ;  a  great  revival  was  the  result ;  and  it  was  not  long 
before  they  built  a  church.  It  stood  at  the  intersection  of  the 
highways,  south  of  the  residence  of  \Vm.  H.  Chapman,  Esq., 
this,  too,  was  constructed  of  wood ;  never  was  painted,  nor 
finished  on  the  inside  •  and  never  was  furnished  with  pews.  It 
was  removed  about  twenty-five  years  ago  into  Putnam  County, 
where  it  is  used  as  a  dwelling  house. 


*  It  is  related  that  during1  a  meeting  held  .it  this  house,  two  individuals  proposed  to 
<>.ic'i  other  t<>  iro  out  and  have  what  they  termed  a  ;'  knock."  They  adjourned  to  tlicorcl-ard 
Lard  !>y.  where  they  enjoyed  tho  pri\ik'j,re  of  beating  each  other  until  both  were  satisfied, 
*vheii  they  returned  tu  the  meeting. 


296  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Old  residents  speak  of  an  ancient  log  church  that  stood 
just  north  of  the  Camp  Meeting  Woods.  What  was  its 
denomination,  or  when  it  was  built,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  deter 
mine.  It  is  said  the  graves  are  still  visible  which  were  in  the 
burial  ground  connected  with  this  church. 

There  are  now  seven  churches  in  town :  two  Quaker 
societies,  two  Baptist,  one  Catholic  and  two  M.  E.  Churches. 
In  addition  to  this  we  believe  there  is  a  small  Episcopal 
Society,  but  they  have  no  house  of  public  worship.  There  is 
also  a  National  Bank,  a  Savings  Bank,  and  an  Institute. 

The  Pawling  Cemetery  Association  was  incorporated  in 
1858.  The  following  named  persons  loaned  the  association 
the  money  required  to  enable  it  to  purchase  and  lay  out  the 
grounds  :  Jonathan  Akin,  Alexander  Allen,  Emery  Cole,  Asa 
B.  Corbin,  Herman  Ferris,  Sherman  Howard,  Richard  H. 
Chapman,  and  William  Pearce.  Since  its  incorporation  the 
funds  accruing  from  the  sale  of  plots  have  been  sufficient  to 
liquidate  this  debt  in  full,  with  a  surplus  which  is 
being  used  in  beautifying  the  grounds.  A  number 
of  elegant  monuments  have  been  erected  within 
this  beautiful  rural  cemetery ;  and  plot  owners 
evince  a  great  deal  of  taste  and  interest  in  plant 
ing  flowers,  and  otherwise  adorning  the  last  resting 
place  of  departed  friends. 

About  a  mile  north  of  Pawling  Station,  adjoining  the  old 
post  road  between  Albany  and  New  York,  stood  until  recently 
the  grove  known  as  the  Camp  Meeting  Woods.  The  following 
are  the  dates  of  the  camp  meetings  that  have  been  held  there, 
of  which  we  have  any  record.  The  dates  include  the  Sabbaths 
preceding  and  following  the  week  of  the  meeting.  The  first 
was  held  in  1810,  which  gave  the  name  to  the  grove.  Another 
was  held  in  1858,  August  29  to  September  5;  one  in  1859, 
August  14-21;  1860,  September  2-9;  1862,  September  7-14; 
1866,  September  2-9.  A  large  war  meeting  was  held,  in  1862, 
in  this  grove ;  Hon.  George  T.  Pierce  and  a  Mr.  Lord,  of  Po'- 
keepsie,  were  the  speakers.  A  brass  band  was  in  attendance, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  297 

and  considerable  feeling  was  manifested.  This  beautiful 
grove,  composed  of  oak  and  hickory  of  large  growth,  around 
which  so  many  pleasing  associations  of  the  past  were  gathered,, 
was  cut  down  a  year  or  two  since. 

There  is  an  ancient  deed  in  possession  of  a  family  in  this 
town,  covering  a  tract  of  land  in  "  Philipses  Upper  Patent,  in 
Pawling  Precinct,"  which  was  executed  in  1772,  four  years 
before  the  Revolution,  to  Reed  Ferris,  by  Beverly  Robinson 
and  Susannah,  his  wife ;  -  -  Oglevie,  and  Margaret,  his 
wife ;  Roger  Morris,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  and  others.  It  is 
closely  written  on  a  piece  of  heavy  parchment,  about  three  feet 
square,  in  a  plain,  bold  hand;  and  bears  the  autograph  of  each 
of  the  above  historical  characters. 

The  "  Pawling  Riot,"— so-called  by  the  N.  Y.  Herald— 
occurred  in  September,  i87r,  during  which  several  persons 
were  robbed  and  eight  injured  by  some  followers  of  a  traveling 
circus. 

Early  in  the  season  of  1872,  Pawling  was  visited  by  in 
cendiary  fires.  The  Catholic  Church  and  Elmore  Ferris' 
lumber  yard  were  burned,  and  an  attempt  was  made  to  fire  the 
depot  building,  but  happily  failed. 


PINE   PLAINS. 

POPULATION,     1,410. SQUARE  ACRES,    18,176, 


INE  PLAINS  was  formed  from  Northeast,  March  26, 
1823.  Extensive  plains  covered  with  pines,  where  the 
village  of  that  name  now  stands,  suggested  the  name  of 
the  town.  The  surface  is  a  hilly  upland,  the  ridges  being 
separated  by  broad  valleys.  Stissing  mountain,  so  named 
after  an  Indian  chief  who  lived  in  the  "  Notch,"  a  short  dis 
tance  below  its  northern  extremity,  is  in  the  west  part  of  the 
town,  and  is  400  to  500  feet  above  the  valleys.  Its  declivities 
are  steep,  and  it  is  crowned  with  a  mass  of  naked  rock.  Roe- 
liff  Jansens  Kill  crosses  the  northwest  corner,  and  Shekomeko 
Creek  flows  north  through  near  the  centre.  The  principal 
bodies  of  water  are  Thompson,  Stissing,  Mud  and  Halcyon 
Ponds.  The  soil  is  generally  a  productive,  gravelly  loam. 
Upon  draining  a  small  pond  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of 
Pine  Plains  village,  a  very  deep  bed  of  marl,  covering  six  or 
eight  acres,  was  found.  Marl  is  also  found  in  Halcycn 
Pond.  The  first  settlements  were  probably  made  about  1740. 
The  following  is  taken  from  the  records  in  the  Town 
Clerk's  office  in  Pine  Plains  : 

298 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  299 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants  of  the 
Northeast  Precinct,  Duchess  County,  on  Tuesday,  the  5th  of 
April,  1771,  after  choosing  James  Atvvater,  Esq.,  Moderator, 
made  choice  of  the  following  officers:  Charles  Graham,  Clerk; 
Morris  Graham,  Supervisor ;  James  Bryan  and  Hentice  Couse, 
Assessors  of  County  Taxes  ;  Hentice  Couse  and  Israel  Thomp 
son,  Assessors  for  the  Quit  Rent ;  George  Head,  Constable 
and  Collector  ;  Middle  Constable,  James  Young  ;  East  Divi 
sion,  Josiah  Holley ;  James  Hedding,  Hentice  Couse,  and 
James  Bryan,  Overseers  of  the  Poor ;  Lewis  Bryan,  Daniel 
Wilson,  and  Israel  Thompson,  Commissioners  of  Roads  ;  John 
Collins,  Collector  of  Quit  Rents. 

April  2nd,  1776,  the  Town  Meeting  was  held  in  the  North 
east  Precinct  at  the  house  of  James  Young. 

Town  Meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Cornelius  Elmen- 
dorph,  on  the  first  clay  of  April,  1783,  for  the  Northeast 
Precinct. 

Town  Meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Cornelius  P^lmen- 
dorph  on  Clinton  Plains,  for  the  Northeast  Precinct,  on  the 
first  day  of  April,  1788. 

Voted,  1794,  April  ist,  that  eighty  pounds  money  be  raised 
for  the  use  of  the  poor  the  ensuing  year.  Voted,  that  all  hogs 
have  a  right  to  run  on  the  common  if  ringed  and  yoked. 

April  7,  1795,  voted  that  ^6  bounty  be  paid  by  tax  on  the 
inhabitants  of  this  town  for  every  wolf's  head  that  is  killed  in 
said  town  in  the  year  1795. 

Recorded  the  roth  day  of  April,  1772,  a  Bill  of  Sale,  dated 
April  3,  1772,  given  by  John  Hulburt  to  Joseph  Ketchum, 
brth  of  Oblong  and  County  of  DUCHESS,  for  and  in  considera 
tion  of  the  sum  of  ^40  current  lawful  money  of  New  York  to 
the  said  John  Hulburt  in  hand  paid,  in  which  bill  of  sale  is 
mentioned  seventy-eight  acres  of  wheat,  all  which  wheat  is 
made  over  to  the  said  Joseph  Ketchum. 

BYRON  MORRIS  GRAHAM, 

Town  Cl:rk. 

Recorded   the    25th   day  of  May,    1772,  the  ear  mark  of 


300  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Uriah  Davis,  "which  is  a  crop  off  the  Right  Ear,  and  a  Slit  in 
it,  a  half  crop  under  the  side  of  the  left  ear." 

Ear  mark  of  Joseph  Peck,  a  space  cut  out  on  the  under 
side  of  the  left  ear. 

Ear  mark  of  Morris  Graham,  a  "crop  and  slit  in  the  right 
ear,  and  a  hole  in  the  left." 

Taken  up,  July  6,  1774,  by  Hentice  Woolsey,  "a  black 
yearling  colt,  the  near  hind  foot  white,  to  the  fet-lock — no  mark 
or  brand  perceivable."  CHAS.  GRAHAM,  Clerk. 

Nov.  25th,  1777. — Came  into  the  pasture  of  James  Young, 
some  time  in  the  month  of  April  last,  a  sorrel  mare,  two  years 
old  past,  marked  with  the  letter  B  on  the  near  hind  thigh,  SL 
blaze  in  the  forehead,  with  four  white  feet. 

Record  of  Katy  Jones,  who  was  born  May  27th,  1801,  at 
the  house  of  Martin  Lawrence,  in  the  town  of  Northeast. 
Her  mother  was  a  slave  to  said  Lawrence,  named  Dinah.  Re 
corded  December  3oth,  1812.  ISRAEL  HARRIS,  Clerk. 

We,  the  subscribers,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of 
Northeast,  in  the  County  Duchess,  do  certify  that  Driss,  a  slave 
of  Nicholas  Row,  of  said  Town  of  Northeast,  appears  to  be 
under  the  age  of  fifty  years,  and  of  sufficient  ability  to  provide 
for  himself. 

Northeast  Town, )  JEPTHA  WILBUR,         ")  Overseers 

Oct.  26,  1813.!"  PHILO  M.  WINCHELL,  j    of  Poor. 

The  most  important  historical  events  connected  with  the 
present  limits  of  the  town  of  Pine  Plains,  in  the  order  of  time, 
are  those  relating  to  the  Indian  village  of  Shekomeko,  which 
we  now  briefly  lay  before  the  reader. 

MORAVIAN    MISSION    AT     SHEKOMEKO. 

It  was  under  peculiar  difficulties  that  the  Moravian 
Missionary  commenced  his  labors  among  the  nomads  of  the 
western  world ;  and  it  is  by  these  difficulties  that  we  should 
estimate  the  magnitude  of  his  work,  rather  than  by  the  results., 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  301 

growing  out  of  his  efforts.*  He  stood  between  the  white  man 
and  Indian,  the  object  of  a  two-fold  suspicion,  and  yet  the 
friend  of  both.  His  mission  was  to  a  dangerous  people — to  a 
race  whose  angry  passions  had  been  rendered  fierce  above 
control  in  the  school  of  merciless  oppression.  He  saw  wife, 
children,  and  sisters  fall  beneath  the  tomahawk ;  the  crackling 
fires  of  burning  dwellings  were  heard  throughout  the  land, 
mingled  with  the  shrieks  of  the  bound  and  tortured  victim  at 
the  stake.  Yet,  turning  his  back  upon  the  luxuries  of  civiliza 
tion,  he  leads  the  way  into  inhospitable  wilds,  that  he  may 
carry  to  the  hearts  of  the  untutored  savages  the  tidings  of  a 
crucified  Saviour. 

The  Moravian  Mission  at  Shekomeko  is  remarkable  as 
being  the  first  successful  mission  to  the  heathen  in  North 
America  ;  and  is  among  the  first  efforts  of  a  body  of  men  who 
above  all  others  have  distinguished  themselves  for  missionary 
zeal,  and  whose  efforts  have  been  attended  with  extraordinary 
success.  The  good  example,  the  generous  conduct,  the  self- 
denying  devotion  for  the  good  of  others,  that  mark  the  lives  of 
these  early  missionaries,  not  only  serve  as  a  theme  with  which 
to  grace  a  page  in  history,  but  serve  as  a  lesson  which  all  may 
contemplate  with  profit. 

Christian  Henry  Rauch  arrived  at  New  York  from  Germany 
July  1 6,  1740,  where  he  was  introduced  to  several  influential 
persons  from  whom  he  expected  to  derive  information  concern 
ing  the  Indians,  and  the  best  means  of  gaining  an  influence 
with  them.  They  unanimously  discouraged  the  attempt.  All 


*  The  Moravians  claim  to  have  descended  from  one  of  the  earliest  churches 
formed  by  the  Apostle  Paul,  in  lllyricum,  (Horn,  xv  ;  9,)  and  by  the  Apostle  Titus  in 
Dalmatia^  (2  Tim.  iv  ;  10,)  viz.,  the  Sclavonian  branch  of  the  Greek  or  Eastern  Church. 
They  have  always  adhered  to  their  ancient  faith,  notwithstanding  they  have  been  subject 
ed  to  a  series  of'bittcr  persecutions.  They  became  absorbed  in  the  general  movement  of 
the  Reformation,  and  are  little  known  in  the  history  of  subsequent  times  except  under  the 
general  head  of  Protestants  The  name  of  CTnitas  Fratrum,  or  United  Brethren,  was  the 
result  of  a  formal  union  in  1457— GO,  between  the  Moravians,  Bohemians,  and  Waldenses. 
The  Moravians,  like  all  Eastern  Churches,  claim  to  have  maintained  an  uninterrupted 
succession  of  Bishops  from  the  Apostolic  times.  They  were  the  first  society  who  employ 
ed  the  newly  invented  art  of  printing  for  the  publication  of  the  Bible  in  a  living  language, 
for  genera]  distribution  among  the  people.  Under  the  direction  of  Christian  David  and 
Count  Zinzendorff,  who  had  established  themselves  in  Herrnhut,  in  Germany,  the  Mora 
vians  commenced  their  remarkable  labors  among  the  heathen  -.—first  in  Greenland,  in  1733; 
then  among  the  Creek  and  Cherokee  Indians  in  Georgia,  in  1735:  and  then,  after  establish 
ing  their  Colony  at  Bethlehem,  coming  to  the  Mohegan  and  Wampaug  Indians  at  Shekome 
ko  and  its  vicinity.  This  sect  have  from  the  first  cot  flned  their  missionary  labors  to  the 
conversion  of  the" heathen. 


3O2  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS     COUNTY. 

efforts  at  their  improvement  heretofore  had  failed  ;  the  Indians 
were  of  such  a  vicious  and  abandoned  character  that  to  so 

o 

among  them  would  be  dangerous  as  well  as  utterly  vain.  Not 
at  all  discouraged,  he  proceeded  to  seek  out  an  embassy  of 
Mohegan  Indians,  who  had  lately  arrived  in  New  York  on  bus 
iness  with  the  Colonial  Government. 

At  his  first  visit  he  found  them  in  a  state  of  beastly  intoxi 
cation,  and  terribly  ferocious  in  appearance  and  manners. 
Carefully  watching  his  opportunity  to  find  them  alone,  he  ad 
dressed  himself  to  two  of  the  principal  chiefs,  Tschoop  and 
Shabash,  in  the  Dutch  language,  with  which  they  had  become 
slightly  acquainted  in  their  intercourse  with  the  Dutch  settle 
ments  along  the  Hudson  River.  Without  ceremony  he  asked 
them  whether  they  wished  a  teacher  to  instruct  them  in  the 
way  of  salvation.  Tschoop  answered  in  the  affirmative,  adding 
that  he  frequently  felt  disposed  to  know  better  things  than  he 
did,  but  knew  not  how  or  where  to  find  them.  Shabash  like 
wise  giving  his  assent,  the  missionary  rejoiced  and  promised  to 
accompany  them  at  once,  and  visit  their  people,  upon  which 
"  they  declared  him  their  teacher  with  true  Indian  solemnity." 

They  led  him  through  the  unbroken  wilderness  to  Shekom- 
eko,  the  beautiful  Indian  name  of.  the  region  now  known  as 
Pine  Plains.  The  site  of  the  ancient  Indian  village  was  about 
two  miles  south  of  the  present  village  near  the  "  Bethel."  It 
was  located  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Edward  Hunt 
ing,  a  most  beautiful  and  romantic  spot,  such  indeed  is  one 
who  appreciates  the  nobler  traits  of  the  Indian  character  would 
be  prepared  to  find  a  chosen  Indian  haunt ;  and  where  a  passing 
traveler  might  even  now  expect  to  be  startled  by  the  native 
whoop  of  the  red  man  of  the  forest,  or  at  least  to  be  charmed 
by  the  sweeter  music  of  the  Christian  hymns  taught  them  by 
the  faithful  Moravians,  who  in  their  misssionary  huts,  or  in  the 
woods  and  groves  by  which  they  were  surrounded,  often  called 
to  mind  the  favorite  lines  sung  by  the  ancient  Bohemian 
brethren  : — 

'  The  rugged  rocks,  the  dreary  wilderness, 
Mountains  and  woods,  are  our  appointed  place; 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  303 

Midst  storms  and  waves,  on  heathen  shores  unknown, 
AVe  have  our  temple,  and  serve  God  alone.'  " 

This  ancient  Indian  name  is  still  retained  in  the  pictur 
esque  stream*  which  runs  near  the  ancient  Indian  village,  and 
unites  with  Roeliff  Jansens  Kill  in  Columbia  County. 

Rauch  arrived  at  the  Indian  settlement  August  i6th,  and 
was  received  with  true  Indian  hospitality.  He  immediately 
spoke  to  them  on  the  subject  ot  man's  redemption,  and  they 
listened  with  marked  interest.  The  next  day  when  he  spoke 
with  them  he  perceived,  with  sorrow,  that  his  words  excited 
derision  ;  at  last  they  openly  laughed  him  to  scorn.  He  was 
not  discouraged ;  he  persisted  in  visiting  them  daily  in  their 
huts,  representing  to  them  the  evils  of  sin,  and  extolling  the 
grace  of  God  revealed  in  Christ  and  pointing  out  the  way  of 
salvation.  In  these  labors  he  encountered  many  hardships. 
He  lived  after  the  Indian  manner,  traveling  on  foot  from  one 
place  to  another  through  the  wilderness.  Suffering  from  heat 
and  fatigue,  he  was  often  denied  even  the  poor  shelter  of  an 
Indian  hut  for  refreshment  and  rest. 

His  labors  did  not  long  continue  without  their  reward. 
The  Indians  became  gradually  more  attentive  to  his  instruc 
tions,  evidently  favorably  inpressed  with  the  devoted  zeal  he 
manifested  for  their  good,  which  was  so  different  from  the  ordi 
nary  conduct  of  the  white  man  toward  them.  The  first  to 
show  seriousness  was  Tschoop,  the  greatest  drunkard  and  mo<t 
atrocious  villain  among  them.  He  asked  of  the  missionary 
;<  what  effect  can  the  blood  of  Christ,  slain  on  the  cross,  pro 
duce  in  the  heart  of  men  ?"  and  thus  he  opened  the  way  to  a 
full  explanation.  Shabash  also  began  to  exhibit  a  similar 
interest.  It  was  evident  a  work  of  grace  had  begun  in  the 
hearts  of  these  two  savages.  Their  eyes  would  overflow  with 
tears  whenever  they  conversed  with  their  teacher  upon  the 
subject. 

This  effect  upon  the  Indians,  who  were  regarded  by  the 
white  settlers  as  a  horde  of  incorrigible  wretches,  soon  attract 
ed  attention.  And  the  missionary,  who  came  to  preach  to  the 

*  This  name  lias  also  been  given  to  a  station  on  the  Duchess  <fc  Columbia  Railroad. 


304  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

heathen,  was  now  invited  to  preach  to  the  white  settlers  also, 
whose  vices  the  degraded  heathen  had  learned  but  too  well. 

The  change  which  took  place  in  the  conduct  of  Tschoop 
was  very  striking,  for  he  had  been  notorious  for  his  wildness 
and  recklessness,  and  had  even  made  himself  a  cripple  by  his 
debauchery.  Having  become  a  preacher  and  interpreter  among 
them,  he  related  his  experience  in  the  following  manner : 

"Brethren,  I  have  been  a  heathen,  and  have  grown  old 
among  the  heathen,  therefore  I  know  how  the  heathen  think. 
Once  a  preacher  came  and  began  to  explain  to  us  that  there 
was  a  God.  We  answered,  *  Dost  thou  think  we  are  so  igno 
rant  as  not  to  know  that  ?  Go  back  to  the  place  from  whence 
thou  earnest.'  Then  again,  another  preacher  came  and  began 
to  teach  us,  and  to  say,  you  must  not  steal,  nor  lie,  not  get 
drunk,  &c.  We  answered,  '  Thou  fool,  dost  thou  think  we 
don't  know  that  ?  Learn  first  thyself,  and  then  teach  the  peo 
ple  to  whom  thou  belongest,  to  leave  off  these  things,  for  who 
steal  and  lie,  or  who  are  more  drunken  than  thine  own  people  ?' 
And  thus  we  dismissed  him.  After  some  time  Brother  Chris 
tian  Henry  Rauch  came  into  my  hut  and  sat  down  by  me. 
He  spoke  to  me  nearly  as  follows  :  '  I  come  to  you  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  of  Heaven  and  Earth.  He  sends  word  that  he  is 
willing  to  make  you  happy,  and  to  deliver  you  from  the  misery 
in  which  you  now  are.  To  this  end  He  became  a  man,  gave 
His  life  as  a  ransom  for  man,  and  shed  His  blood  for  him.' 
When  he  had  finished,  he  lay  down  upon  a  board,  being 
fatigued  with  his  journey,  and  fell  into  a  sound  sleep.  I  then 
thought  what  kind  of  a  man  is  this  ?  There  he  lies  and  sleeps. 
I  might  kill  him,  and  throw  him  into  the  woods,  and  who  would 
regard  it  ?  But  this  gives  him  no  concern.  However  I  could 
not  forget  his  words.  Even  while  I  slept  I  dreamed  of  that 
blood  which  Christ  had  shed  for  us.  This  was  something 
different  from  what  I  had  ever  before  heard.  And  I  interpreted 
Christian  Henry's  words  to  the  other  Indians." 

But  now  many  of  the  white  settlers,  who,  while  they  cor 
rupted,  abused,  and  vilified  the  Indians,  at  the  same  time  lived 
upon  them,  and  who  made  large  gains  especially  by  their 
drunkenness,  conceived  that  their  interests  would  be  injured 
by  the  success  of  the  missionary.  They  therefore  stirred  up 
the  more  vicious  Indians,  instigated  them  to  threaten  his  life 
if  he  did  not  leave  the  place.  And  they  even  tried  to  seduce 


HISTORY  OF   DUCHESS  COUNTY.  305 

the  two  chiefs  to  their  former  wretched  life,  whose  remarkable 
conversion  had  attracted  so  much  attention. 

In  this  extremity  the  name  of  John  Rau  should  be  men 
tioned  with  honor  for  his  noble  defense  of  the  persecuted  Mora 
vian.  He  was  the  steadfast  friend  of  the  devoted  Missionaries 
through  all  their  subsequent  troubles,  until  they  were  driven 
from  the  province  by  an  unjust  act  of  the  Colonial  Government. 
With  his  assistance  Rauch  overcame,  in  a  great  measure,  the 
obstacles  placed  in  his  way  by  his  intriguing  enemies.  Several 
new  converts  were  made,  and  the  mission  assumed  an  interest 
ing  and  promising  character.  In  1741,  it  was  visited  by 
Bishop  David  Nitschman,  the  companion  and  fellow  laborer 
of  Count  Zinzendorff. 

About  this  time  a  companion  and  aid  was  sent  to  Rauch  at 
Shekomeko,  from  Bethlehem.  His  name  was  Gottlob  Buett- 
nor,  a  martyr  to  the  work  upon  which  he  then  entered,  and 
whose  grave  at  Shekomeko  has  brought  to  notice  the  memory 
of  this  noble  effort  of  the  Moravians,  and  whose  brief  history 
is  of  the  greatest  interest  in  connection  with  the  mission.  He 
preached  for  the  first  time  to  the  Indians  at  Shekomeko,  Jan. 
1 4th,  1742,  from  Col.  i  ;  13.  On  the  nth  of  the  following 
month  Rauch  and  Buettnor  were  ordained  deacons  at  Bethle 
hem.  On  the  same  day  Rauch  baptized  three  of  the  Indian 
converts  who  had  accompanied  them  from  Shekomeko — the 
first  fruits  of  this  most  remarkable  Indian  mission.  Tschoop 
was  not  among  them,  he  having  been  unable  to  undertake  the 
long  journey  in  consequence  of  his  lameness.  He  was,  how 
ever,  baptized  at  Shekomeko  on  the  i6th  of  April  following, 
receiving  the  Christian  name  of  John.*  The  annexed  is  a 
portion  of  the  letter  dictated  to  the  brethren  on  the  occasion 
of  the  baptism  of  his  companions  : 

"  I  have  been  a  poor,  wild  heathen,  and  for  forty  years  as 
ignorant  as  a  dog.     I  was  the  greatest  drunkard,  and  the  most 


*  Tschoop  (pronounced  tish-up)  became  a  victim  of  that  terrible  Rcoursre  of  th« 
Indians,  small-pox.  He  clod  at  Bethlefiern,  whither  he  had  gone  to  reside  \vi:!i  several 
of  his  tribe,  in  171G. 


306  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

willing  slave  of  the  Devil ;  and  as  I  knew  nothing  of  our 
Savior,  I  served  vain  idols,  which  I  now  wish  to  see  destroyed 
with  fire.  Of  this  I  have  repented  with  many  tears.  When  I 
heard  that  Jesus  was  also  the  Sarior  of  the  heathen,  and  that 
I  ought  to  give  him  my  heart,  I  felt  a  drawing  within  me 
towards  him.  But  my  wife  and  children  were  my  enemies, 
and  my  greatest  enemy  was  my  wife's  mother.  She  told  me  I 
was  worse  than  a  dog,  if  I  no  more  believed  in  her  idol.  But 
my  eyes  being  opened,  I  understood  that  what  she  said  was 
the  greatest  folly,  for  I  knew  she  had  received  her  idol  from 
her  grandmother.  It  is  made  of  leather,  and  decorated  with 
wampum,  and  she,  being  the  oldest  person  in  the  house,  made 
us  worship  it ;  which  we  have  done,  till  our  teacher  came, 
and  told  us  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  shed  his  blood, 
and  died  for  us  poor  ignorant  people.  Now  I  feel  and  believe 
that  our  Savior  alone  can  help  me,  by  the  power  of  His  blood, 
and  no  other.  I  believe  that  he  is  my  God  and  my  Savior, 
who  died  on  the  cross  for  me  a  sinner.  I  wish  to  be  baptized, 
and  long  for  it  most  ardently.  I  am  lame,  and  cannot  travel 
in  winter;  but  in  April  or  May  I  will  come  to  you.  I  am 
your  poor  wild  TSCHOOP." 

The  wonderful  change  which  had  taken  place  in  this  wild 
Indian  awakened  the  attention  of  the  other  Indians,  who 
flocked  to  Shekomeko,  from  twenty  or  thirty  miles  round,  to 
hear  the  new  preacher. 

In  the  summer  of  1742,  the  mission  was  visited  by  Count 
Zmzendorff  and  his  beautiful  and  interesting  daughter  Benigna. 
They  crossed  the  country  from  Bethlehem,  Penn.,  to  Esopus 
(now  Kingston),  and  arrived  at  Shekomeko  Aug.  2yth,  "after 
passing  through  dreadful  wildernesses,  woods  and  swamps,  in 
which  he  and  his  companions  suffered  great  hardships."  Rauch 
received  them  in  his  hut  with  great  joy,  and  the  day  following 
lodged  them  in  a  cottage  built  of  bark.  The  Count  afterward 
declared  this  to  have  been  the  most  agreeable  dwelling  he  had 
ever  inhabited.  During  this  visit  six  Indians  were  baptized, 
and  a  regular  congregation  was  formed.  It  consisted  of  ten 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  307 

persons,   and  was  the  first    congregation  formed  of  believing 
Indians  in  North  America. 

In  September  the  Count  and  his  companions  took  leave  of 
them.  Two  Indians,  David  and  Joshua,  accompanied  them' 
to  Bethlehem,  who  were  baptized  at  that  place  by  Buettnor, 
the  Count  assisting  in  the  administration. 

In  October  of  that  year  Gottlob  Buettnor  and  wife  rejoined 
Missionary  Rauch  at  Shekomeko,  and  devoted  themselves  to 
the  work  of  instructing  the  heathen.  In  December  a  burial 
ground  was  laid  out  for  the  use  of  the  baptized  Indians,  the 
same  in  which  Buettnor  was  afterward  buried.  At  the  close  of 
the  year  the  whole  number  of  baptized  Indians  was  thirty-one. 

About  this  time  Martin  Mack  arrived  to  assist  in  the 
mission,  but  soon  afterward  took  charge  of  the  station  at 
Pachgatgoch,  (Schaghticoke,)  where  the  success  was  even 
greater  than  at  Shekomeko,  and  where  the  missionaries  con 
tinued  to  labor  more  than  twenty  years.  A  portion  of  the 
tribe  still  remains  ;  their  history  is  full  of  melancholy  interest, 
and  worthy  of  an  imperishable  record. 

March  i3th,  1743,  holy  communion  was  administered  to 
the  firstlings  of  Shekomeko,  preceded  by  a  love-feast,  followed 
by  the  Pedilavium  (washing  of  one  another's  feet),  both 
established  customs  among  the  Moravians.  The  Missionary 
writes  :  "  While  I  live  I  shall  never  lose  the  [impression  this 
first  communion  with  the  Indians  in  North  America  made 
upon  me." 

In  July,  1743,  the  new  chapel  at  Shekomeko  was  finished 
and  consecrated.  It  was  thirty  feet  by  twenty,  and  was 
covered  with  smooth  bark.  It  is  represented  as  an  appropri 
ate  and  commodious  building,  striking  in  its  general  appear 
ance,  and  of  great  convenience  to  the  mission.  It  was  con 
stantly  kept  open  on  Sundays  and  on  festal  occasions.  The 
greatest  interest  was  manifested  by  the  Indians  in  the  services 
held  in  their  new  chapel. 

But  now  troubles  begin  to  thicken  in  the  pathway  of  the 
devoted  missionaries.  The  whites  were  enraged  at  the 


308  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

injury  of  their  business  ;  caught  every  false  rumor  in  circula 
tion  against  them,  and  publicly  branded  them  with  epithets  of 
Papists  and  traitors.  The  authorities  of  New  York  and  Con 
necticut  were  called  upon  to  interfere  and  banish  them  from 
the  country. 

Two  of  the  missionaries  were  taken  up  at  Pachgatgoch,  and 
after  being  dragged  up  and  down  the  country  for  two  days, 
were  honorably  acquitted  by  the  Governor  of  Connecticut. 
Yet  their  accusers  insisted  on  their  being  bound  over  in  a  pen 
alty  of  one  hundred  pounds,  to  keep  the  laws  of  the  country. 
The  missionaries  then  retired  to  Shekomeko,  followed  by  many 
Indians  whom  they  had  instructed. 

No  charge  could  be  more  false  and  preposterous.  The 
history  of  the  missionaries  consisted  of  their  good  works  in 
the  effort  to  save  souls,  and  in  the  trials  and  sufferings  endured 
from  the  persecutions  of  the  Church  of  Rome.  They  made  it 
a  fixed  policy  never  to  interfere  in  the  politics  of  the  country, 
but  simply  to  labor  for  the  benefit  of  their  fellow  men. 

Count  Zinzendorffsent  Brother  Shaw  as  a  school-master  to  the 
Indian  children  at  Shekomeko.  At  the  close  of  1743,  the 
congregation  of  baptized  Indians  at  Shekomeko  numbered 
sixty-three  persons,  exclusive  of  those  belonging  to  Pachgat 
goch.  About  this  time  occurred  the  difficulties  between  the 
French  and  English  about  the  boundaries  of  their  respective 
dominions.  The  French  employed  Jesuits  to  alienate  the 
Indian  tribes,  and  prepare  them  to  take  part  against  the  Eng 
lish.  The  fears  of  the  white  settlers  were  greatly  alarmed.  The 
Indians  were  generally  regarded  as  enemies,  and  any  one 
who  befriended  them  was  looked  upon  as  a  spy  of  the  French. 
This  state  of  things  afforded  an  excellent  opportunity  for  the 
enemies  of  the  missionaries  at  Shekomeko.  They  were 
charged  with  being  Papists  and  Jesuits  in  disguise ;  preparing 
the  savages  for  a  grand  massacre  of  their  white  neighbors ; 
and  of  having  secreted  arms  for  the  purpose.  These  reports 
terrified  the  inhabitants  ;  many  forsook  their  farms  and  fled  ; 
others  placed  themselves  under  arms  for  defence. 


HISTORY    OF   DUCHESS    COUNTY.  309 

March  ist,  1744,  Mr.  Justice  Hegeman,  of  Filkintown 
(Mabbettsville)  visited  Shekomeko,  and  informed  the  mission 
aries  that  it  was  his  duty  to  inquire  what  sort  of  people  .the 
Brethren  were,  for  the  most  dangerous  tenets  were  ascribed  to 
them.  He  himself  gave  no  credence  to  the  reports,  and  was 
fully  convinced  that  the  work  at  Shekomeko  was  a  work  of 
God. 

Buettnor,  the  principal  missionary,  was  at  the  time  absent 
in  Bethlehem.  Immediately  on  his  return,  they  were  sum 
moned  to  Pickipsi  (Poughkeepsie)  to  exercise  with  the  militia ; 
they  refused  on  the  ground  that  as  ministers  of  the  gospel  they 
could  not  be  legally  required  to  bear  arms. 

In  June  of  that  year  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  arrived  from 
Pickipsi  to  examine  into  affairs.  He  admitted  the  accusations 
against  the  priests  were  entirely  groundless,  but  he  required 
them  to  take  two  oaths  : 

i st.  That  King  George,  being  the  lawful  sovereign  of  the 
kingdom,  they  would  not  in  any  way  encourage  the  Pretender. 

2d.  That  they  rejected  Transubstantiation,  the  worship  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  Purgatory,  etc. 

In  every  point  in  these  oaths  Buettnor  assured  him  they 
could  entirely  agree.  And  though  they  could  not  in  good  con 
science  take  an  oath,  being  restrained  by  the  religious  princi 
ples,  which,  as  members  of  the  Brethren  Church,  they  had 
adopted,  yet  they  were  willing  to  be  bound  by  their  assevera 
tion,  yes  or  no.  The  Justice  expressed  his  satisfaction  for  the 
present,  but  required  them  to  be  bound  in  a  penalty  of  forty 
pounds  to  appear  before  the  court  in  Pickipsi  on  the  i6th  of 
October  following. 

The  next  June  they  were  summoned  to  Reinbeck,  where 
they  were  called  upon  in  open  court  to  prove  they  were  pri 
vileged  teachers.  Buettnor  produced  his  written  vocation  and 
his  certificate  of  ordination,  duly  signed  by  Bishop  David 
Nitschman. 

Again  on  the  i4th  of  July  they  were  required  to  appear 


310  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

before  the  Justice  at  Filkintown.  Here  John  Rau  appeared 
in  their  favor,  and  gave  a  decisive  and  noble  testimony,  from 
his  own  intimate  knowledge,  in  their  defence. 

In  the  meantime  their  adversaries  had  repeatedly  accused 
them  before  Hon.  George  Clinton,  then  Governor  of  New 
York,  who  sent  for  them  to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  the  start 
ling  reports.  Buettnor  and  Senseman,  from  Shekomeko,  and 
Shaw  from  Bethlehem,  went  to  New  York,  where  they  found 
that  the  whole  town  was  aroused  concerning  them.  Mr.  Jus 
tice  Beekman,  however,  who  had  before  examined  them  at 
Reinbeck,  publicly  took  their  part  in  New  York,  and  affirmed 
that  "  the  good  done  by  them  among  the  Indians  was  unde 
niable." 

Proceedings  were  commenced  before  the  Governor  touch 
ing  their  case  in  July,  1744,  and  the  matter  was  left  to  a 
council.  His  Excellency  communicated  to  the  board  that  he 
had  sent  letters  to  Col.  H.  Beekman,  one  of  His  Majesty's 
Justices  for  Duchess  County,  and  Colonel  of  Militia  for  that 
county,  acquainting  him  with  the  reports  he  had  received 
touching  the  Moravians,  and  requiring  him  to  make  the  neces 
sary  investigation.  He  also  communicated  to  the  Board  a 
letter  from  Beekman  that  there  were  four  Moravian  priests  and 
many  Indians  at  Schecomico,  and  that  he  had  made  search  for 
arms  and  ammunition,  but  found  none,  nor  could  he  hear  of 
any.  Before  the  receipt  of  the  Governor's  order,  the  Sheriff, 
Justice  and  eight  others  were  at  Schecomico  ;  they  found  the 
Indians  quietly  at  work  on  their  plantations,  who  were  thrown 
into  consternation  at  their  approach.  The  Indians  received 
the  Sheriff's  party  civilly ;  but  no  ammunition  was  found,  and 
as  few  arms  as  could  be  expected  among  such  a  number  of 
men.  He  denied  their  being  disaffected  toward  the  crown ; 
that  they,  too,  were  afraid  of  the  French  and  Indians.  The 
only  business  of  the  missionaries  at  Schecomico  was  to  save 
souls  among  the  heathen.  They  were  asked  to  take  oaths,  but 
refused  through  a  scruple  of  conscience. 

Upon   examination  of  the  missionaries  before  the  council, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  3!  I 

these  facts  were  repeated,  and  they  were  exonerated  from  all 
blame.  The  prosecution  of  the  missionaries  thus  far  was  under 
the  provincial  law  against  Jesuits,  passed  1700,  which  was  to 
the  last  degree  unjust  and  oppressive.  It  may  be  urged  in 
palliation  however,  and  with  reason,  that  the  public  mind  was 
greatly  exercised  in  regard  to  the  subject ;  that  the  people 
stood  in  mortal  dread  of  the  tomahawk  and  scalping  knife ; 
and  the  possibility  and  even  probability  that  some  of  the  mas 
sacres  of  the  white  settlers  were  instigated  by  human  fiends 
sent  amog  the  Indians  under  the  guise  of  priests  was  sufficient, 
under  such  a  state  of  feeling,  to  prejudice  the  people  against 
any  who  professed  to  be  teachers  of  the  red  man. 

In  September,  1744,  Buettnor  was  again  summoned  to 
Pickipsi,  and  again  honorably  dismissed.  In  the  minds  of  most 
of  the  people,  the  missionaries  were  innocent  of  the  charges 
against  them. 

Thus  far  the  schemes  of  the  enemies  of  the  devoted  mis,- 
sionaries  had  been  foiled  ;  now  they  were  to  prove  more  suc 
cessful.  December  i5trf,  1744,  three  Justices  appeared  at 
Shekomeko,  and  the  missionaries  were  again  commanded  to 
appear  at  Pickipsi  on  the  i7th.  Buettnor  was  ill  and  could  not 
.attend;  but  the  other  missionaries  appeared.  The  act  was 
read  to  them  by  which  the  ministers  of  the  congregation  of  the 
Brethren,  teaching  the  Indians,  were  expelled  from  the  country, 
under  the  pretense  of  being  in  league  with  the  French,  and 
were  forbidden  under  a  heavy  penalty,  ever  again  appearing 
among  the  Indians  without  first  taking  the  oath  of  allegiance. 

Bishop  Spangenberg  visited  Shekomeko  to  devise  means  by 
which  the  Moravians  might  carry  on  their  work,  but  all  in  vain. 
He  remained  there  two  weeks,  and  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
converted  Indians  exposed  to  all  the  evil  influences  surround 
ing  them.  Finally  the  white  people  drove  the  believing  Indi 
ans  from  Shekomeko  by  main  force,  on  pretense  that  the 
ground  the  town  was  built  upon  belonged  to  others,  and  they 
<took  possession  of  the  land. 

Buettnor  now  ended  his  weary  pilgrimage,  dying  Feb.  23d, 


312  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

r745-  aged  29  years.  The  Indians  wept  over  him;  they 
dressed  his  corpse  in  white,  and  buried  him  with  great  solemnity 
at  Shekomeko ;  they  watered  his  grave  with  their  tears,  and  for 
a  long  time  used  to  visit  and  weep  over  it.  A  stone  put  up  to 
mark  his  grave  bore  this  inscription : 

"  Here  lies  the  body  of  Gottlob  Buettnor,  who  according  to 
the  commandment  of  his  crucified  God  and  Savior,  brought 
the  glad  tidings  to  the  heathen,  that  the  blood  of  Jesus  had 
made  an  atonement  for  their  sins.  As  many  as  embraced 
this  atonement  in  faith  were  baptized  in  the  death  of  the  Lord. 
His  last  prayer  was  that  they  might  be  preserved  until  the  day 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  was  born  Dec.  29th,  1716,  and 
fell  asleep  in  the  Lord  Feb.  23,  1745." 

Only  a  small  portion  of  this  stone,  very  much  mutilated, 
and  scarcely  at  all  legible,  is  still  preserved.  The  locality  is 
still  shown  by  the  proprietor,  Edward  Hunting,  as  also  the  site 
of  the  Missionary  building  ;  some  portions  of  the  foundation 
are  still  recognized.  The  orchard  planted  by  the  Missionaries 
has  disappeared;*  and  the  medicinal  roots  there  planted 
until  recently  refused  to  quit  their  home,  and  remained  a 
blessing  to  those  living  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  effect  of  these  misfortunes  was  disheartening  to  the 
the  poor  Indians.  A  portion  of  the  tribe  removed  to  Pachgat- 
goch,  where  they  attempted  to  make  their  home.  Another 
part  formed  a  colony  at  Wechquadnack,  on  the  eastern  border 
of  Indian  Pond,  in  the  town  of  Sharon,  Conn.  A  portion  of 
the  Indian  orchard  still  remains.  At  this  place  was  formed  a 
congregation  of  Indians,  under  charge  of  Moravians.  David 
Bruce,  a  Scotchman,  was  appointed  to 'this  station,  where  he 
died,  deeply  lamented,  in  1749,  and  was  buried  here. 

After  the  dispersion  of  the  Indians  at  Wechquadnack,  a 
congregation  of  white  people  was  established  on  the  west  side 
of  Indian  Pond,  in  North  East,  on  lands  owned  by  Hiram 
Clark.  Here  a  meeting-house  was  built,  which  was  in  later 
years  used  as  a  school-house.  Near  by,  in  a  burying-ground,  is 

*  One  apple  tree  remained  till  within  three  or  four  years. 


HISTORY  OF   DUCHESS  COUNTY.  313 

the  grave  of  Rev.  Joseph  Powell,  doubtless  the  Moravian  mis 
sionary  of  that  name.  Other  Shekomeko  Indians  went  to 
Bethlehem,  in  Penn.,  and  as  it  was  impossible  for  the  Moravians 
to  continue  their  labors  here,  the  field  was  finally  abandoned. 

After  the  death  of  Bruce,  the  whites  at  Wechquadnack  still 
desiring  that  religious  services  might  be  held  there,  a  Moravian 
named  Abram  Van  Reinke  was  sent  out.  He  had  appoint 
ments  at  Salisbury  and  Sharon,  in  Connecticut,  and  also  at 
Oblong,  Nine  Partners,  and  Livingston  Manor. 

Mabbettsville  is  the  "  Filkintown"  of  the  historian  Loskiel, 
so-called  from  the  Filkins,  who  were  early  settlers  in  the  neigh 
borhood.  Before  the  observer  is  the  rugged  back  of  old  Stiss- 
ing,  an  isolated  granite  mountain  with  sides  and  jagged  ridge 
covered  with  forests  as  thick  as  when  the  Mohegans,  one  hun 
dred  years  ago,  roamed  through  the  solitude  to  rouse  the  bear, 
or  chase  the  bounding  moose.  Eastward,  along  its  foot,  are 
spread  luxuriant  meadows,  with  scarcely  a  tree  to  vary  the  car 
peting  of  green.  Halcyon  Lake  lies  south  of  the  village  of 
Pine  Plains,  surrounded  by  pastoral  beauties.  Here  Buettnor 
and  his  Indians  were  wont  to  shoot  the  wild  duck  and  spear 
the  pickerel. 

The  ancient  Indian  village*  of  Shekomekof  was  situated,  it 
is  believed  by  some,  in  a  field  that  slopes  southward  from 
Buettnor's  grave  to  the  meadow — less  than  twenty  feet  inter- 

*  The  annexed  Is  copied  from  a  drawing,  made  in  1745,  of  the  village  of  Shekomeko. 
The  line  on  the  bottom  represents  Shekomeko  Creek.  Near  the  left  of  the  picture  is  a  cir 
cle,  representing  an  old  garden.  To  the  right  of  this  are  two  large  buildings  together;  these 


Shekomeko  in  174"). 

are  the  church  and  mission  house.  The  two  figures  circular  at  the  top  represent  cellars. 
The  figure  nearest  to  the  creek  is  a  barrack  for  hay  or  grain ;  and  the  square  one  above  the 
row  of  huts  marks  the  place  of  the  buriai  ground. 

t  Signifying  in  the  Indian  tongue,  "  Little  Mountain."  Aun«  Eunice,  grand  daughter 
of  Gideon  Mauwee,  the  Scbaghtlcoke  chieftain,  always  accented  the  antepenult  in  speak 
ing  the  word— She-koin-eko;  she  said  that  sounded  "more  Indian"  to  her  ear. 


314  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

vening.  between  the  missionary's  graves  and  the  Indian  huts  that 
were  arranged  in  a  crescent  around  the  little  bark-covered 
church.  Others  locate  it  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  southeast 
of  the  grave,  not  far  from  a  pile  of  stones  said  to  have  been 
the  foundation  of  the  "  sweat-house,"  and  a  basin  in  the  brook 
that  comes  down  from  the  hillside,  where  the  Moravian  mis 
sionaries  used  to  dip  the  Indian  children  ill  with  the  small-pox. 

In  1854,  Rev.  Sheldon  Davis  interested  Mr.  Hunting  in 
the  search  for  the  grave  of  Buettnor.  One  Winans,  a  descend 
ant  of  the  former  proprietor,  was  the  only  one  who  could  iden 
tify  the  spot.  He  came,  and  driving  down  a  stake,  said  the 
grave  was  within  a  rod  of  the  same ;  and  that  the  first  stone 
the  plow  would  strike  would  be  a  fragment  of  the  old  grave 
stone.  After  turning  a  few  furrows,  the  plow  stuck  a  slab  a 
few  inches  below  the  surface  that  proved  to  be  the  object 
sought  after. 

It  appears  that  during  the  proprietorship  of  Winans,  be 
tween  1762  and  1797,  an  attempt  was  made  to  remove  the 
stone.  It  then  stood  upright,  in  the  middle  of  a  field,  and  was 
an  obstacle  to  cultivation.  A  yoke  of  oxen  and  three  horses 
were  unable  to  draw  it  away,  and  it  was  allowed  to  stand.  As 
late  as  1806,  the  school  boys  as  they  passed  would  gather  about 
the  grave  of  the  unknown  man,  and  gradually  demolished  the 
monument.  One  boy,  who  strongly  protested  against  the 
sacrilege,  was,  in  1860,  the  sole  survivor  of  the  party. 

Shortly  afterward  the  grave  was  searched  for  treasure,  it 
being  said  there  was  an  Indian  warrior  buried  there,  with  a 
rifle  of  costly  workmanship.  Nothing,  however,  was  found, 
except  a  skull  and  a  few  bones,  and  fragments  of  pine  boards. 
The  fragments  of  stone  were  replaced,  but  gradually  became 
scattered,  and  the  plow  and  harrow  finished  the  work  of  de 
struction.  When  Mr.  Hunting  came  in  possession  of  the  farm 
he  found  a  portion  of  the  slab  in  a  stonewall.  It  was  removed 
within  doors,  and  became  an  object  of  curiosity. 

In  1859,  the  Moravian  Historical  Society  took  measures  to 
erect  monuments  over  the  grave  of  Gottlob  Buettnor,  at  She- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  315 

komeko,  and  near  the  graves  of  David  Bruce  and  Joseph 
Powell,  at  Wechquadnack.  Lossing  assisted  in  the  undertak 
ing,  and  to  him  was  entrusted  the  designing  of  the  monu 
ments.* 

It  was  thought  that  the  occasion  of  the  dedication  of  the 
monuments,  which  took  place  in  September,  1869,  demanded 
something  of  a  historic  nature.  Ministers  were  appointed  to 
prepare  discourses  embodying  all  historical  data  that  could  be 
found  bearing  upon  the  subject.  Portions  of  the  Moravian 
ritual  that  relate  to  the  death  and  resurrection  were  selected ; 
the  use  of  litanies  was  deemed  appropriate,  for  the  missiona 
ries  were  buried  without  those  cherished  rites.  Easter  morning 
litany,  prayed  yearly  on  Moravian  burial  grounds,  and  the 
choral  music  of  trombonists,  a  characteristic  of  Moravian 
obsequies,  were  added  to  the  programme  of  religious  exercises. 
It  was  deemed  best  to  hold  introductory  services  of  a  more 
general  nature  on  the  evening  before  the  first  day  of  dedication, 
in  order  that  the  committee  and  friends  might  witness  cere 
monies  of  Moravian  worship ;  and  they  were  accordingly  held 
in  the  "  Bethel,"  a  little  Union  Church  in  the  valley  of  Shekom- 
eko.  The  memorial  services  were  attended  by  a  concourse  of 
over  one  thousand  people. 

The  site  of  Powell's  grave,  and  the  Moravian  church  and 
cemetery,  being  on  lands  of  Mr.  Clark,  it  was  deemed  proper 
to  hold  services  in  this  locality,  and  from  thence  proceed  across 
the  lake  in  boats,  pursuing  the  same  course  toward  the  south 
eastern  shore  as  had  been  followed  by  the  Indians  when,  over 
a  hundred  years  ago,  they  carried  the  remains  of  their  loved 
teacher  over  "  Gnaden-See  "  for  interment  in  their  national 
cemetery. 

Near  the  site  of  the  ancient  village  of  Wechquadnack  is  a 
marble  shaft  erected  to  the  memory  of  David  Bruce  and  Jo 
seph  Powell.  It  is  situated  at  the  summit  of  a  little  knoll, 
in  a  sheltered  nook,  afe\vrods  from  the  eastern  border  of  In 
dian  Pond.  Around  it  are  the  same  grand  old  mountains, 

"Rock-ribbed,  and  ancient  as  the  sun," 


*  The  monuments  were  manufactured    in   the  marble   yard  at  roujrhkeepsie,  and 
•during  the  first  part  of  September  [1S-3JJ]  were  visited  by  great  numbers  of  people  daily. 


HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

which  echoed  back  the  beautiful  hymns  sung  by  the  Moravian 
missionary  and  his  dusky  congregation. 

On  the  north  side  of  this  monument  is  inscribed  : — Joseph 
Powell,  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  in  the  church  of  the  United 
Brethren,  born  1710,  near  White  Church,  Shrop 
shire,  England.  Died  September  22,  1771,  at  Si- 
chem,  in  the  Oblong,  DUCHESS  ,'ounty,  New  York. 
On  the  south  side  are  the  foil  .ving  words  : — David 
Bruce,  a  minister  of  the  Gos^  1  in  the  church  of 
the  United  Brethren,  from  Edinburgh,  Scotland. 
Died  July  9,  1749,  at  the  Wechquadnack  Mission, 
DUCHESS  County,  New  York.  And  on  the  west  side  : — erected 
by  the  Moravian  Historical  Society,  October  6,  1859  ;  on  the 
reverse,  a  selection  from  Isaiah. 

The  following  are   the  inscriptions  on   the   monument  at 
Shekomeko: — North  side — Shekomeko   Mission,    commenced 
April    6,    1740,     by    Christian    Henry    Rauch. 
Erected   by   the    Moravian    Historical   Society, 
Oct.   5,    1859.     South  side — In  memory  of  the 
Mohican  Indians,  Lazara,  baptized  Dec.  i,  1742, 
died  Dec.  5,  1742,  and  Daniel,  baptized  Dec.  26, 
1742;  died  March  20,   1744.       On  the   east  and 
Monument.      west  sides  are  similar  inscriptions,  one  in  English 
and  the  other  in  Dutch,  the  same  that  was  inscribed  on  the 
original  monument* 


An  old  church,  built  by  the  Moravians,  or,  as  some  believe, 
by  the  Dutch  Reformed  Society,  once  stood  a  mile  or  more 
east  of  Pine  Plains,  near  Hammertown,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
old  burying  ground.  The  house  was  quite  large,  square  built, 
and  was  never  ceiled.  Alex.  Mclntosh  brought  over  the  com 
munion  service  and  presented  it  to  the  church.  The  grand 
father  and  grandmother  of  Abraham  Bockee  were  buried  here 
in  1764,  about  the  time  the  church  was  built.  Much  of  the 

*  See  page  312. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  317 

material  of  this  ancient  edifice  is  still  preserved,  having  been 
used  in  the  construction  of  a  barn  in  the  vicinity. 

When  Livingston's  surveyors  were  running  the  line  be 
tween  his  manor  and  the  Little  Nine  Partners'  tract,  they  were 
believed  to  be  locating  the  line  too  far  south,  and  were  met 
and  fought  back  by  persons  in  the  interest  of  the  land  compa 
ny.  When  they  came  to  the  west  line  of  the  Oblong,  then  the 
boundary  of  Connecticut,  the  people  of  that  colony  offered 
armed  resistance  to  the  surveyors,  who  were  about  to  run 
their  line  through  to  the  Taghkanick  Mountains.  In  the 
skirmish  one  of  Livingston's  surveyors  was  killed.  From  this 
and  similar  circumstances  it  would  appear  that  force  was  a 
favorite  instrument,  in  those  early  times,  of  settling  difficulties. 
Instead  of  going  to  law,  as  a  means  of  deciding  a  boundary, 
armed  bodies  of  men  were  brought  on  the  ground,  when  the 
question  of  ownership  of  the  disputed  territory  would  be 
decided  in  favor  of  the  victorious  party. 

Henry  Yonkhonce  and  a  man  named  Montross  were  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Pine  Plains.  The  latter  located  in  the 
northwest  part  of  the  town,  where  he  built  a  mill ;  the  former 
settled  to  the  east  of  him,  not  far  from  Hammertown.  Yonk 
honce,  so  it  is  said,  was  slain  on  his  own  domain  by  a  war 
party  of  fierce  Mohawk  Indians,  who  were  on  their  way  to 
attack  the  Shekomeko  settlement.  By  some  means  they  were 
deterred  from  the  intended  attack,  and  commenced  a  retreat ; 
the  Shekomeko  tribe  sent  a  party  of  armed  warriors  in  pursuit, 
who  overtook  their  foe  near  the  borders  of  Copake  Lake,  in 
Columbia  County.  Here  a  sanguinary  battle  was  fought, 
resulting  in  the  total  destruction  of  the  invading  party — not 
one  of  them  being  spared  to  convey  the  news  of  their  disas 
trous  defeat  to  their  distant  village  in  the  valley  of  the  Mo 
hawk.  Ebenezer  Dibble,  C.  W.  Rauty,  James  Graham,  John 
Tice,  Smith  and  Snyder  were  early  settlers. 

Two  log  houses  are  yet  standing  in  the  vicinity  of  the  vil 
lage  of  Pine  Plains,  which  were  among  the  first  built  in  the 
town.  Their  sides  have  since  been  covered  with  clap-boards, 


318  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

thereby  concealing  the  manner  of  their  construction.  The 
larger  of  the  two,  known  as  the  Lasher  House,  stands  a  short 
distance  west  of  the  village.  The  house  and  farm  on  which  it 
stands  are  leasehold  property.  It  is  quite  a  large  building, 
quaint  in  its  style,  and  \va,s  doubtless  reckoned  an  elegant  man 
sion  when  first  built. 

During  the  Summer  of  1876,  a  centennial  tea-party  was- 
held  in  this  dwelling.  Antique  furniture  was  brought  in  for 
the  occasion,  the  dishes  were  of  the  pattern  in  use  one  hun 
dred  years  ago  ;  the  viands  were  of  the  primitive  kind  partaken 
of  by  our  "rude  forefathers"  ;  and  the  dresses  of  the  guests 
were  in  keeping  with  the  occasion. 

This  ancient  edifice  has  its  traditionary  story.     At  the  time 


The  Lasher  House. 

of  the  Revolution,  it  was  occupied  by  a  Tory  named  Lewis. 
His  movements  were  closely  watched  by  his  Whig  neighbors^ 
who  were  suspicious  that  he  was  secretly  intriguing  with  the 
enemies  of  his  country.  At  length  they  became  so  well  satis 
fied  of  the  fact,  that  they  deputized  some  of  their  number  ta 
wait  upon  him,  acquaint  him  of  their  suspicions,  and  inform 
him  that  he  must  either  renounce  forever  his  Tory  sentiments, 
or  leave  the  country — giving  him  until  the  following  morning 
to  make  a  final  decision.  Upon  going  to  the  house  the  next 
morning,  they  found  the  old  Tory  had  hung  himself  in  the 
garrett  during  the  night,  and  was  stone  dead.  This  circum 
stance  has  caused  the  house  to  be  regarded  by  many  with  a 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  319 

superstitious  dread  ;  which  has  given  rise  to  other  tales  of 
strange  doings  in  it.  It  is  said  that,  a  few  years  ago,  blood 
stains  were  visible  on  the  floor  of  an  upper  chamber,  which  were 
attributed  to  some  dark  deed  yet  hidden  trom  the  eyes  of  the 
world. 

One  venerable  pine,  a  specimen  of  the  primitive  forest  trees 
that  once  covered  this  plain,  yet  stands  within  the  limits  of  the 
village  of  Pine  Plains.  It  is  preserved  and  cherished  by  the 
people  as  a  memento  of  the  past ;  and  will  doubtless  be  suf 
fered  to  remain  until  the  process  of  decay  and  the  rude  storm 
blasts  shall  lay  it  prostrate. 

In  a  field  near  this  tree  is  an  old  burying  ground,  in  which 
were  interred,  in  early  times,  the  colored  slaves  of  the  settlers. 
North  of  the  village  is  a  beautiful  rural  cemetery,  in  which 
are   deposited  the   village   dead.     The  grounds  are   tastefully 
laid  out,  and  ornamented  with  evergreens  and  shrubbery.     The 
numerous  marble  shafts   rising   on  every  hand, 
and  the  less  imposing  slabs  embowered  in  trail 
ing  vines  and  enclosed  with  little  beds  of  exqui 
site'    flowers,    testify    to    the    passing     traveler 
that  departed  friends  are  held  in  tender  remem 
brance. 

About  half  a  mile  east  of  Pine  Plains  village  is  the  quiet 
little  settlement  of  Hammertown.  Here  was  an  extensive 
tannery,  recently  discontinued.  Here  the  ruins  of  the  Harris 
Scythe  Factory  are  also  located ;  in  which,  years  ago,  the 
sound  of  a  score  or  more  of  trip-hammers  was  heard,  and 
which  suggested  the  name  of  the  place.  The  original  factory 
was  established  in  1776,  the  year  of  American  Independence. 
Its  location  was  to  the  east  of  the  Shekomeko  creek  ;  but  was 
afterward  removed  to  the  present  site,  where  it  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  The  present  buildings  were  then  erected.  Work  in 
them  has  some  time  been  discontinued,  and  the  buildings  have 
been  suffered  to  go  to  decay.  The  roof  of  one  of  these  has 
fallen  in,  and  the  walls  are  crumbling  from  neglect.  This  was 
at  an  early  period  a  thriving  business  place ;  but  has  been  out- 


320  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

stripped  in  the  race  by  its  sister  villages,  whose  location  proved 
to  be  more  eligible. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  present  century,  though  stated 
meetings  were  held  in  the  town,  but  little  was  said  about  sects 
and  doctrines.  Meetings  were  held  in  schoolhouses  and 
private  dwellings,  mostly  by  Presbyterians  and  Methodists. 
Rev.  John  Clark  of  Pleasant  Valley,  and  a  Mr.  Price,  an 
itinerant  M.  E.  preacher,  used  to  hold  meetings  in  the 
vicinity.  About  the  year  1818,  Elders  John  Buttolph  and 
Luman  Burtch  came  here  and  preached  a  part  of  the  time. 

Previous  to  this,  however,  a  number  of  enterprising  indi 
viduals  had  set  on  foot  a  project  to  build  a  meeting  house.  A 
committee  had  been  appointed  to  inquire  into  its  feasibility, 


Ruins  of  the  Harris  Scythe  Factory. 

and  to  perfect  a  plan  of  operations.  This  committee  advised 
them  to  purchase  a  lot,  and  build  a  house  34x50  feet.  As  a 
means  of  raising  the  necessary  funds,  it  was  determined  to 
issue  stock,  divided  into  shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each  ; 
this  was  readily  taken  up  by  resident  capitalists,  and  the  work 
was  commenced  with  vigor.  The  understanding  was,  that  at 
the  completion  of  the  house,  the  seats  were  to  be  sold  to  the 
highest  bidder,  the  purchaser  to  receive  a  title  by  deed;  those 
who  owned  stock  were  to  take  their  pay  in  seats,  unless  they 
chose  to  let  them  go  to  the  highest  bidder.  In  nine  months 
the  edifice  was  completed,  and  was  called  the  Union  House, 
because  all  joined  in  its  construction,  irrespective  of  creed. 

Public  notice  was  given  of  the  sale  of  the  seats ;  a  large 
assembly  was   on   hand   at  the   appointed  hour ;  a  crier  was 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  321 

selected,  and  the  sale  went  on  with  spirit.  At  the  close  of  the 
sale  it  was  found  the  proceeds  exceeded  the  expense  of  building 
by  several  hundreds  of  dollars.  Before  the  people  separated, 
they  were  called  to  order  by  the  moderator.,  who  proposed 
that  the  desk  be  occupied  by  certain  denominations  to  the 
exclusion  of  all  others,  and.  that  six  trustees  be  appointed  to 
carry  the  resolution  into  effect  which  proposition  was  adopted 
by  vote  of  the  assembly. 

The  community  being  largely  Presbyterian.  Rev.  Mr.  Blair 
was  hired  to  preach  one-half  the  time  for  a  year;  he  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  Robert  G.  Armstrong,  of  Orange  County. 
During  this  time  Elder  John  Buttolph,  a  Baptist,  occupied  the 
pulpit  every  fourth  Sabbath,  and  ministered  to  the  people  for 
about  two  years  ;  Elder  Luman  Burtch  assisted  a  part  of  the 
time.  This  church  edifice  is  still  standing  in  the  village  of 
Pine  Plains,  and  is  occupied  exclusively  by  the  Presbyterians. 
Rev.  Win.  N.  Sayre  is  their  present  pastor,  who  has  been  over 
this  charge  for  a  period  of  forty-three  years.  This  is  the  first 
and  only  pastorate  over  which  he  has  been  placed,  in  which  he 
has  so  long  and  so  acceptably  labored. 

In  1834  or  '35,  a  series  of  meetings  was  held,  resulting  in 
many  conversions.  All  denominations  participated  in  the 
exercises ;  and  when  the  new  converts  began  to  declare  in 
favor  of  this  and  the  other  sect,  an  unfortunate  division  of 
feeling  occurred  among  the  members  of  the  different  churches. 
Finally,  the  Baptists  resolved  to  build  a  separate  house  of 
worship.  They  purchased  a  lot,  laid  the  foundation,  and 
raised  the  frame.  When  nearly  completed,  on  the  3d  of  June, 
1837,  a  sleeping  tornado  passed  through  a  part  of  the  town 
and  village,  carrying  destruction  in  its  way.  The  new  house 
of  worship  vras  laid  in  ruins.* 

This  \vac  a  crushing  blow  to  all  their  projects.  However, 
they  resolved  on  another  effort.  The  public,  and  the  sister 
churches  in  the  county  liberally  assisted  them.  In  eleven 
months  another  house,  very  neat  anil  commodious,  was  erected. 

;  ilio  lior. :Vi  used  by  UK-  bi-ilJers,  on 
iiH'.'  C'jumcUeut. 


322  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

May  7,  1838,  the  house  was  dedicated,  Elder  John  Leland* 
preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon,  from  Matt.,  xvi :  18. 

There  are  seven  church  edifices  within  the  town  of  Pine 
Plains,  viz :  A  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Baptist,  Episcopal, 
Christian  and  two  Union  Churches.  The  first  four  are  situated 
within  the  village  of  Pine  Plains ;  one  Union  house  is  at  Pul- 
ver's  Corners,  and  the  other  at  Bethel ;  the  Christian  Church  is 
a  neat  little  edifice  standing  near  the  west  line  of  the  town. 

In  the  year  1800,  the  village  of  Pine  Plains  contained  only 
a  hotel,  and  four  or  five  isolated  dwellings.  A  tract  of  about 
fourteen  hundred  acres  near  the  village  is  still  owned  by  the 
heirs  of  the  original  proprietors.  In  1808  some  enterprising 
men  commenced  improving  the  village.  A  large  and  com 
modious  dwelling  of  brick,  a  store,  and  a  hotel  were  erected  by 
a  Mr.  Dibble,  who  carried  on  the  mercantile  business  for  many 
years,  doing  a  large  trade  in  barter.  He  purchased  most  of 
the  grain  produced  by  the  surrounding  country.  In  1853  the 
village  contained  twenty-four  dwellings,  together  with  several 
stores  and  shops:  and  as  late  as  1860,  could  boast  of  only 
382  inhabitants.  It  now  (1876)  contains  four  churches,  a 
union  free  school,  two  hotels,  a  National  Bank  and  about  800 
inhabitants. 

The  scenery  in  this  vicinity  is  unsurpassed.  The  numerous 
lovely  lakes  in  the  quiet  valley ;  the  rugged  mountains  bound 
ing  the  vision  on  either  hand ;  the  gently  undulating  plain 
stretching  away  before  the  beholder ;  all  contribute  to  its  at 
tractiveness.  People  from  the  city  in  large  numbers  are  drawn 
hither  during  the  sultry  Summer  months. 

The  rugged  back  of  Stissing  Mountain  abruptly  rears  itself 
above  the  plain  about  one  mile  west  of  the  village.  From  its 
summit  an  extensive  view  is  obtained  of  the  surrounding 
country.  It  is  yearly  visited  by  numbers  of  tourists  and  pic 
nic  parties.  A  writerf  thus  says  of  it : 

*  Iceland  was  an  energetic  preacher  of  the  Gospel,  and  was  said  to  have  traveled,  in 
the  performance  of  his  ministerial  functions,  a  distance  suffli  icnt  to  girdle  The  world  thre« 
times.  He  journeyed  on  horseback,  through  the  primitive  wilderness,  best  t  with  dangers, 
and  totally  unacquainted  with  luxury.  He  preached  the  ordination  sermon  of  Luman 
Burtch,  at  Ancrarn,  June  17,  1806  from  Isaiah  vi :  6,  7. 

t  Bailey. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  323 

"An  hour's  drive  brought  us  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain, 
at  which  point  the  way  became  so  precipitous  that  we  had  to 
perform  the  rest  of  the  journey  on  foot.  After  considerable 
effort  we  reached  the  summit ;  from  whence  the  mountain, 
appears  like  a  huge  boulder  transported  there  by  some  freak  of 
nature,  rising  solitary  and  alone  from  the  midst  of  a  beauti 
ful  valley.  Westward  lay  an  undulating  country,  extending 
to  the  noble  Hudson,  a  distance  of  eighteen  miles.  The 
glories  of  a  September  sun  painted  its  dark  blue  waters  with  a 
still  deeper  hue.  Beyond  lay  the  Catskill  Mountains,  whose 
blue  summits  rise  one  above  the  other,  stretching  beyond  the 
vision's  utmost  limit.  The  far-famed  Mountain  House  was  in 
full  view,  perched  on  its  airy  cliff.  Eastward  the  view  extend 
ed  to  the  Taghkanick  range.  The  village  of  Pine  Plains,  with 
its  church  spires  glittering  in  the  autumnal  sun  ;  the  adjacent 
valleys,  dotted  over  with  white  farm  houses,  and  rich  with 
ripening  harvests ;  the  numerous  romantic  lakes,  bordered  with 
dark  evergreens,  and  rich  in  Indian  legends  ;  all  combined  to 
form  a  most  charming  prospect." 

Halcyon  Lake  is  a  remarkably  picturesque  body  of  water. 
Its  location  is  near  the  site  of  the  ancient  Indian  village  of 
Shekomeko.  Before  the  advent  of  the  white  people  the 
dark  pine  forest  came  down  to  the  brink,  and  cast  a  melan 
choly  shadow  over  the  waters.  The  red  man  sought  its  banks, 
at  the  time  of  the  deepening  twilight ;  he  heard,  in  the  moan 
ing  of  the  evening  wind  among  the  branches,  the  voice  of  the 
Great  Spirit,  speaking  in  mysterious  tones  of  the  "  land  of  the 
hereafter"  ;  and  he  saw  upon  the  bosom  of  the  lake — 

"  Lighted  by  the  shimmering  moonlight, 
And  by  \vill-o-the  wisps  illumined, 
Fires  by  ghosts  of  dead  men  kindled, 
In  their  weary  night  encampments." 


PLEASANT  VALLEY. 


POPULATION,  1,826. — SQUARE  ACRES,  20,049, 


fLEASANT  VALLEY  was  formed  from  Clinton,  January 
26th,    1821.      Its    surface    is  a  rolling  and  hilly  upland. 
7^?  Barnes  and    Dennis    Hills,    in    the    northwest,   are    the 

Vk — ;<> 

^  highest  points.  Wappingers  Creek  flows  southwest  through 
near  the  centre.  Sprout  Creek  takes  its  rise  in  a  pond  near  the 
southwest  part.  Slate  crops  out  along  the  hills,  and  a  vein  of 
marble  has  lately  been  discovered.  The  largest  body  of  water 
is  Pond  Gut,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town.  The  soil  is  a 
clayey  and  gravelly  loam. 

The  village  of  Pleasant  Valley  was  incorporated  April  i5th, 
1814.  It  is  located  in  a  pleasant  vale  on  the  borders  of 
Wappingers  Creek,  from  which  the  town  derives  its  name. 
But  little  attention  has  been  paid,  however,  to  the  election  of 
officers  under  the  charter,  which  was  packed  away  among 
other  papers  and  almost  forgotten.  Some  four  or  five  years 
ago,  an  act  of  the  Legislature  so  modified  the  excise  laws  that 
a  town  board  of  excise^^xmld  not  legally  grant  a  license  to  a 
resident  of  an  incorporated  village  ;  but  provided  that  the 
question  should  rest  with  the  board  of  trustees.  This  called 

324 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


325 


up  the  question  of  the  village  charter.  After  a  diligent  search 
the  instrument  was  found,  and  it  was  ascertained  that  all 
except  one  of  the  board,  of  trustees  were  dead.  This  solitary 
member  at  once  organized  a  meeting  of  the  board,  filled  up 
the  vacancies  by  appointments,  elected  J.  B.  Duncan,  Presi 
dent,  proceeded  to  grant  the  required  licenses,  and  adjourned'. 
The  board  has  never  since  met.  The  Pleasant  Valley  Insti 
tute  is  located  here. 

Among  the  oldest  settlers  of  Pleasant  Valley  are  the  names 
of  Newcomb,  Peters. Forman,  Hicks,  Devine, Humphrey,  Dubois, 
Thurston,  Everson,  Dean,  Holmes,  Sharpstein,  Ham,  &c. 

William  Holmes  settled  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town. 
He  came  from  Long  Island;  a  large  number  of  his  descend 
ants  still  reside  in  this  and  neighboring  towns.  Benjamin 
Lattin,  also  from  Long  Island,  located  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  village  of  Pleasant  Valley.  One  Major  Vanderburgh 
is  mentioned  as  having  lived  at  an  early  date,  to  the  west  of 

Salt  Point.  The  Blooms 
built  a  mill  and  mansion 
a  short  distance  north 
of  Washington  Hollow. 

A  large  cotton  factory 
is  located  at  the  village 
of  Pleasant  Valley, 
owned  by  Garner*  &  Co. 
The  cloth  is  manufactur 
ed  here  and  conveyed  to 
the  print  works  at  Wappingers  Falls  to  be  printed.  East  of 


1 1 1 1  1 1 1  i i  ill  I 


1 1 II 1 1 1 1 1  HI  i 


Coitoii  factory  of  Garner 


*  TV  gentleman  ivho  so  unforfiinatoly  m^t  his  d^at'i  in  tho  summer  of  1S7<!.  Tlic 
circumstances  are  thus  rclat»(l:-ln  tli«'ariuriMiiiof.lnlv2>t'i  \V,n  T.  Garner  \\pnt<>n 
board  uis  yac'u  at  Sraieii  Islan  i,  a--c  unpanieil  bv  his  w  f-  a  id  five  invited  },'ti  sts.  At  ''his 
time  tin-  skv  to  the  westwaid  was  cloudy,  and  a  s'mrp  squall  was  evidently  at  hard.  His 


yac'it.  the  Molntu 
of  canvass.     This 
those  on  b  >ard  *f 
Avho  at  the  time  < 
way  to  sase  his  \\ 
nine  of  water  p»n 
commander  and  1 
that  lie  pa'd  irood 

k.  had  ; 
irretftila 

II  her 

i-ir.v  of 

tlie 

S| 

Mi 

read 
ihau 

wh 
k  w. 

!  •  ; 

•  •t.'ier  v 
rved,  a 

chts  did  not  show 
d  a  warning  sent  t 

a  stitch 
o   iM.tity 
Gan.er, 
e  1  a:ch- 
'pe  vol- 
e    brave 
Garner 
of  tiicm 

f  the  ea 

ile.  !1< 

astrop 
reacli 
II  the 
ii-f  ire  t 

H-  was 
•tl  !ier  .- 
hatc'i\\ 

stau 
nd\ 
a  v, 
ild  r 

NHL' 
as  i 

til)0( 

•ac'i 

on  i 

•tl  ! 

in*,' 

II 
111 

qnarte 
i^r,  wlu 
e  cab' 
•  •r.  It 

-deck,  rushed  to  tl 
i  he  was  met  by  a  i 
,  and  drowning  tl 
is  said  of  Will  am  '1 

fell  si^K  in  his  employment,  he  s..-nt  the  check  regularly  wl.en  j'ay-day  came  round. 


326  HISTORY"  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  village  are  the  Pine  Grove  Woolen  Mills,  owned  and 
managed  by  the  Bowers  family. 

Before  the  division  of  the  town  of  Clinton,  town  meetings 
were  sometimes  held  at  the  house  of  one  Wood,  still  standing, 
a  short  distance  west  of  the  residence  of  Bradford  Holmes, 
Esq.,  in  Pleasant  Valley. 

The  old  Presbyterian  Meeting  House,  built  about  a  century 
and  a  quarter  ago,  stood  not  far  from  Wheeler's  Hotel,  at  the 
Hollow.  It  was  a  plain  square  building,  quite  large,  two  stories 
in  hight,  and  was  furnished  with  a  gallery  on  three  sides.  The 
land  on  which  it  was  built  was  deeded  for  the  purpose  by  Isaac 
German,  a  large  landholder.  The  cemetery  ground  here  was 
originally  connected  with  this  church.  During  the  Revolution 
this  edifice  was  used  as  a  prison.  The  country  here  was  mostly 
settled  by  the  Germans,  who  thought  it  very  wrong  to  turn 
against  the  King ;  Toryism  was  therefore  rampant  in  this  vici 
nity,  and  it  required  the  strong  arm  of  the  military  to  keep  it 
in  check.  Says  Lossing  :  "  During  the  year  that  Burgoyne  was 
making  his  victorious  march  toward  the  Valley  of  the  Hudson, 
the  Tories  of  DUCHESS  became  bold,  and  defied  the  militia 
guard  that  had  been  established.  About  four  hundred  of  them, 
well  armed,  assembled  at  "  Carpenter's,"  now  Washington 
Hollow,  and  threatened  destruction  to  all  the  Whigs  in  the 
neighborhood.  An  expedition  was  immediately  set  on  foot  in 
Sharon,  Connecticut,  to  break  up  the  gang.  A  strong  party  of 
armed  volunteers  gathered  at  Blooms  Mills,  north  of  the  Hol 
low,  and  early  in  the  morning  marched  for  the  latter  place, 
where  they  found  the  Tories  paraded  in  a  meadow.  Marching 
up  with  spirit,  the  volunteers  fired  on  the  insurgents,  who  broke 
and  fled.  Thirty  or  forty  of  them  were  captured  and  taken 
first  to  Connecticut,  and  afterwards  to  New  Hampshire,  where 
they  were  confined  about  two  years."* 

The  building  now  known  as  Wheeler's  Hotel  was  built 
about  the  year  1800,  by  William  German.  Early  in  the  year 
1813  a  large  number  of  cannon  and  troops  were  being  trans- 


See  page  55. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  327 

ported  from  New  York  to  Sackett's  Harbor.  A  portion  of  them 
passed  by  different  routes  through  our  county.  The  cannon 
were  heavy,  the  roads  were  bad,  and  the  passage  therefore  ex 
tremely  difficult.  A  detachment  stopped  for  a  night  at  the 
Hollow ;  the  officers  taking  up  their  quarters  at  the  hotel,  and 
the  soldiers  seeking  the  protection  of  the  old  Presbyterian 
Church. 

A  large  landholder  west  of  Washington  Hollow  was  named 
Newcomb.  He  left,  at  his  death,  three  hundred  acres  of  land 
to  each  of  his  three  sons.  This  side  of  him  is  a  rough  streak 
of  country.  A  man  named  Hall  was  looking  for  a  place  to 
locate.  He  came  from  Pleasant  Valley  on  foot,  through  the 
then  almost  unbroken  wilderness  He  was  a  feeble  man,  and 
his  strength  gave  out  just  as  he  reached  the  rough  section  re 
ferred  to.  He  concluded  therefore  to  go  no  further,  and  set 
tled  down  there  among  the  rocks.  A  few  minutes'  walk  would 
have  brought  him  to  the  productive  lands  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  Hollow,  where  he  might  have  located  had  he  chosen  to 
do  so. 

The  Newcomb  house  was  occupied  at  the  time  of  the  Rev 
olution  by  a  Tory  of  a  very  decided  character.  His  wife  was 
a  staunch  Whig ;  and  it  may  be  surmised  the  domestic  felicities 
of  the  family  were  nothing  to  boast  of.  The  woman  was  too 
many  for  him,  however,  in  the  wordy  encounters  that  occurred  ; 
but  she  could  not  succeed  in  converting  her  renegade  husband. 

The  DUCHESS  Turnpike  runs  diagonally  through  this  town, 
meeting  the  Amenia  and  Dover  Turnpikes  a  short  distance 
east  of  the  Hollow.  It  was  built  about  the  beginning  of  the 
present  century. 

A  gentleman  living  in  this  vicinity  mentions  some  circum 
stances  connected  with  the  Erie  Canal  project.  The  two 
political  parties  which  were  divided  on  this  question,  were  here 
sharply  denned.  One  side  claimed  a  canal  would  be  ruinous 
to  the  grain  producing  interests  of  the  river  counties,  and 
objected  to  being  taxed  for  that  purpose  equal  to  the  farmers 
in  the  western  part  of  the  State,  who  were  to  reap  the  whole 


328  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

benefit  of  the  work.  When  the  State  Canal  was  finished^ 
their  predictions  were  realized ;  the  price  of  wheat  fell  from, 
$2.75  to  $1.00  per  bushel. 

A  great  celebration  was  held  in  New  York  City  in  honor  of 
the  completion  of  the  canal,*  and  our  informant,  in  company 
with  others,  went  to  see  it.  An  immense  procession  was 
formed,  comprising  representations  of  the  varied  interests  of 
the  commonwealth,  with  cars  and  banners.  Not  the  least 
interesting  part  of  the  exercises  was  the  aquatic  procession  which 
sailed  down  the  bay  to  Sandy  Hook,  carrying  with  them 
a  barrel  of  Lake  Erie  water,  which  was  poured  into  the  ocean 
at  this  point  with  very  imposing  ceremonies.  One  may  judge 
of  the  splendor  of  the  celebration  when  it  is  stated  that 
upwards  of  two  hundred  banners  and  standards  were  displayed 
among  the  different  societies,  many  of  them  really  elegant. 
So  crowded  was  the  city  that  many  of  the  visitors  could  not 
find  lodgings. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Pleasant  Valley  was  organized 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Duchess  County,  in  the  year  1765.  The 
society  was  legally  incorporated  January  26th,  1785,  agreeably 
to  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  April  6th,  1784.  Cornelius 
Humphrey  and  Eliphalet  Platt  were  chosen  Inspectors,  and. 
John  Everson,  Clerk.  The  following  persons  were  chosen 
Trustees :  Cornelius  Humphrey,  Eliphalet  Platt,  Lemuel 
Conklin,  John  M.  Thurston,  John  Everson,  and  Joshua  Ward. 
"  Voted,  that  this  congregation  be  known  by  the  name  of  the 
Presbyterian  Congregation,  of  Pleasant  Valley. — Charlotte 
Precinct,  Jan.  26th,  1785." 

Rev.  Wheeler  Case  was  ordained  and  installed  the  first 
pastor,  Nov.  i2th,  1765,  his  pastorate  continuing  twenty-six 
years.  Rev.  Methuselah  Baldwin  succeeded  him,  and 


*  On  Wednesday,  at  10  A.  M.,  the  waters  of  Lake  Erie  were  admitted  into  the  canal  at 
Buffalo,  and  the  first  boat  commenced  it*  voyage  to  N'-w  York.  This  auspicious  event 
-,vas  announced  to  the  citizens  of  the  Stuu>  hy  the  roar  of  cannon,  planted  at  intervals  of 
about  eight  miles  aloii};  the  banks  of  the  canal  and  the  Hudson,  the  lino  extending  from 
lintfalo  to  Sandy  Hook,  a  distance  of  ~A4  inih-s  The  cannon  were  fired  in  succession  <  oni- 
mcn<  iiif:  at  the  moment  of  the  entrance  of  the  boat  into  ihe  canal,  and  the  intelligence  thus 
communicated  reach-  d  New  York  at  precisely  nvi-nty  mi iur.es  past  eleven  o'clock,  -.vhen  a. 
national  Dilute  was  find  from  the  Mattery.  The  intelligence  that  this  was  received  wus- 
then  returned  by  the  same  line  of  cannon  to  Butlalo. 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  329 

continued  over  the  church  a  period  of  five  years.  Rev.  John 
Clark  became  pastor  in  1800;  resigned  in  1806;  was  recalled 
in  October,  1808,  and  remained  pastor  for  a  period  of  thirty- 
seven  years.  Rev.  Henry  J.  Acker  was  installed  pastor  in 
April,  1869. 

August  i Qth,  1826,  the  Session  received  and  granted  a 
petition  of  sixteen  members  of  this  church,  to  be  dismissed 
to  form  a  Presbyterian  church  in  Poughkeepsie. 

August  4th,  1828,  a  similar  request  of  sixteen  members 
was  granted  to  organize  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Freedom 
Plains  town  of  LaGrange. 

March  28th,  1837,  twelve  members  were  dismissed  to 
organize  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Pleasant  Plains,  town  of 
Clinton. 

December  i5th,  1860,  seventeen  members  were  dismissed 
to  form  the  Westminister  Presbyterian  Church  at  Salt  Point. 

The  first  house  of  worship*  was  a  wooden  structure, 
erected  in  1770011  the  main  street  in  the  village  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  a  few  rods  west  of  the  present  building.  In  1812  it 
wa>  repaiiecl  and  considerably  enlarged,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500. 
Tae  present  brick  edifice  was  built  in  1848. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  held  March  nth  1794,  for 
taking  into  consideration  the  subject  of  a  parsonage,  it  was 
agreed,  after  some  debate,  to  drop  the  idea  of  building,  and  to 
g've  Mr.  Baldwin  a  settlement  of  ;£ioo  in  lieu  of  a  parsonage. 
The  money  was  subscribed,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  accepted  it."  In 
i  So  i,  the  congregation  secured  a  parsonage,  with  about  twenty 
acres  of  land  attached,  one  mile  east  of  the  village.  In  1869 
this  farm  was  sold,  and  the  present  parsonage  near  the  church 
erected,  at  a  cost  of  $4,500. 

The  old  burying  ground  attached  to  the  church  contains 
the  remains  of  Revs.  Case  and  Clark,  and  of  many  of  the 
oldest  members  of  the  congregation.  These  ancient  burial 
plots  are  justly  regarded  with  great  veneration.  By  recent 

*  A  Presbyterian  meeting-house  stood  at  Washington  Ilollcnv,  built  about  the  year  1745 
or '40. 


33°  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

purchases,  the  grounds  of  the  cemetery  have  been  greatly 
enlarged.  They  are  under  control  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
In  April,  1770,  Jacob  and  Margaret  Everson  gave  the  con 
gregation  the  deed  for  the  land  on  which  the  church  was  built. 
Mrs.  Susanna  Ward,  in  1845,  left  by  will  $600  for  furnishing 
the  Sunday  School  room.  In  1869,  Dr.  Edward  L.,  and  Ade 
line  Beadle  gave  the  congregation  a  valuable  piece  of  land 
where  the  present  parsonage  stands. 

Elder  John  Lawrence,  a  pioneer  Baptist,  preached  in  this 
town  at  an  early  period  of  its  history.  He  held  services  in 
barns,  schoolrooms  and  private  houses,  and  not  unfrequently 
in  the  woods.  In  1770  he  organized  a  small  church  at  Zac- 
cheus  Newcomb's  house.  Christian  Newcomb  preached  occa 
sionally.  Joseph  Harris  was  the  first  deacon.  The  Society 
lingered  awhile,  and  was  subsequently  left  to  dwindle  away. 
Sometime  afterward,  Elder  Bullock,  of  Stanford,  preached  near 
Salt  Point.  His  labors  were  rewarded  with  a  revival,  and  some 
forty  or  fifty  were  baptized.  These  became  a  branch  of  his 
church.  In  1790,  John  VanVoorhis  gave  them  a  deed  for  half 
an  acre  of  land,  and  they  determined  to  build  upon  it.  Their 
first  records  were  made  in  1792.  Elder  John  Dodge  became 
their  first  pastor  in  1795,  continuing  till  1813,  when  he  resigned. 
The  church  cU  little  for  his  support,  except  to  provide  him 

with  fire  wood.  The  records 
speak  of  Elders  Hoadly,  Stevens, 
Warren  and  Burtch,  as  having 
preached  for  them  occasionally. 

About  the  year  1836,  the 
church  was  visited  by  Elder  Philip 
bu^aic.i.uicu^Ktiaautvaihsy.  Roberts,  Jr.,  as  a  county  mission 
ary.  A  protracted  meeting  was  held,  in  which  he  was  assisted 
by  a  brother  Waterbury,  from  New  York,  and  by  other  mis 
sionary  brethren.  The  meeting  lasted  twenty  days,  and  people 
came  from  all  quarters  to  hear  the  Word.  From  sixty  to 
seventy  conversions  are  recorded,  and  thirty-eight  were  bap 
tized.  Elder  Roberts  accepted  the  call  of  the  church  to  be- 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  331 

•come  its  pastor,  serving  them  a  period  of  seven  years  with 
fidelity  and  success.  In  1842,  Geo.  W.  Houghton,  a  very 
useful  and  excellent  member  of  this  church,  was  ordained  an 
Evangelist.  From  that  time  until  1850  the  society  improved 
their  house  of  worship;  erected  a  public  shed;  bought  six 
acres  of  land  for  parsonage ;  erected  a  barn,  and  greatly  im 
proved  the  parsonage  house.  The  family  names  of  Badgley, 
Wilde,  Thurston,  Garret,  Travis,  Schryver,  Fosdick  and  others, 
appear  on  the  records  as  early  members. 

A  Quaker  [Hicksite]  meeting  house  is  situated  in  the  vil 
lage  of  Pleasant  Valley,  built  nearly  three-fourths  of  a  century 
ago.  A  Mr.  Dean  gave  the  land,  and  contributed  largely 
towards  the  erection  of  the  house.  Engraven  on  the  monu 
ments  in  the  old  burying  ground  are  the  family  names  of 
Attwood,  Whipple,  Farrington,  Bloodgood,  Lawton,  &c. 

The  Westminster  [Presbyterian]  Church  at  Salt  Point,  a 
Methodist  and  Episcopal  Society  at  Pleasant  Valley,  and  the 
Christian  Church  at  Washington  Hollow,  comprise  the  churches 
in  the  town,  in  addition  to  those  previously  mentioned.  The 
Methodist  house  was  moved,  some  thirty  years  since,  from  the 
hill  east  of  the  village,  to  its  present  location.  The  Episcopal 
house  was  built  on  the  old  ground  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


POUGHKEEPSIE. 


POPULATION,    25,000. — SQUARE   ACRES,*    22,140. 


Poughkeepsief  was  formed  as  a  town  March  yth,  1788.. 
March  27th,  1799,  the  village  of  Poughkeepsie  was  formed 
and  March  28th,  1854,  it  became  an  incorporated  city.  The 
town  borders  upon  the  Hudson,  and  contains  some  fine  farm 
ing  lands.  Its  surface  is  mostly  a  rolling  upland.  Wappingers 
Creek,  forming  the  east  boundary,  and  the  Fallkill,  flowing 
through  Poughkeepsie  City,  each  furnish  a  considerable 
amount  of  water  power.  The  soil  is  clayey  in  the  west,  and 
a  sandy  and  gravelly  loam  in  the  remaining  parts.  New  Ham 
burgh,  Manchester,  Rochdale,  and  Locust  Glen,  are  small 
villages.  A  portion  of  the  incorporated  village  of  Wappingers 
Falls  lies  in  this  town. 

The  name  Poughkeepsie  is  from  the  Indian  word  Apo-ksep- 
si-irk,  and  signifies  a  safe  harbor.  The  Fallkill  was  so  named  by 


*  Iiifhi(l!ii{,r  both  town  and  city. 

t  This  mi  mo  is  spelled  in  the  old  records  in  no  loss  than  42  ways.  viz. — T'nkeopsie, 
raropsev.  I'akcpx'.v,  1'aiifilikrpsio,  I'ccapoy.  1'ccapsy.  IN  capslic.  I'ocl'iket  psii:ck,  I'oi'irh- 
kf'i-pMii;:.  PoiyhkccpsiiiKk.  l'o<-- hkecpMiik,  I  oc-hkc-opsry,  poclikeopscn.  roc!ikocp\v,  1'och- 
kopM-ii,  IN  c'  kyphsniKli.  I'i  ckwpsy,  Pockopseick.  >  oc-kcpscnjr,  I'okopsiiijr,  I'oj.'like«-p>ie, 
I'ojrhkoopshiCk.  PojflikoopRiiiji.  I'<i{rlik(-psc.  1'oj/likcpsci),  I'ujjhki  c])sink,  I'ojf'skwpM'H, 
]'  ^l!k« -pso,  I'okc-  p-ij-'li  I'ul-.ccpsin.srh,  l>ukc«'i)si'ik.  I'-.kc-c-psy,  I'okcpsinc'v,  1'oki'pst-n, 
Poughkecpsuy,  l'ouketpsie,ljouktcp»y,  Pikipsi,  1'icipsi,  i'oUfpsie,  1'okfcpsie,  1'oughkft-psiei. 

332 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  333 

the  Dutch,  because  of  the  number  of  cascades  or  falls  occur- 
ing  in  that  stream.  The  Indians  called  it  the  Minnakse.  The 
bluff  north  of  the  bay  at  the  mouth  of  the  Fall  Kill  was  called 
by  the  Dutch  Slange  Klippe,  Snake  or  Adder  Cliff,  because  of 
the  venemous  serpents  that  abounded  there  in  olden  times. 
The  southern  cliff  bears  the  name  of  Kaal  [  Calf]  Rock,  that 
being  the  place  where  the  settlers  called  to  the  captains  of 
sloops  when  they  wished  to  take  passage  with  them.  With 
this  bay,  after  whose  beautiful  Indian  appellation  the  city  and 
town  of  Poughkeepsie  are  named,  is  associated  an  Indian 
legend. 

Some  Delaware  warriors  came  to  this  spot  with  some 
Pequod  captives.  Among  the  latter  was  a  young  chief,  who 
was  offered  his  life  and  honor  if  he  would  renounce  his  nation, 
receive  the  mark  of  a  turtle  upon  his  breast,  and  become  a 
Delaware  brave.  He  rejected  the  proposition  with  disdain. 
His  captors  thereupon  bound  him  to  a  tree,  and  prepared  to 
deal  with  him  according  to  their  customs.  A  half  score  of 
tomahawks  were  raised  to  hurl  at  the  unfortunate  captive, 
when  a  sudden  shriek  startled  the  executioners.  A  young  and 
beautiful  Indian  girl  leaped  before  them,  and  plead  for  his 
life.  She  was  a  captive  Pequod,  and  the  young  chief  was  her 
affianced. 

The  Delawares  debated.  Suddenly  the  war-cry  was 
sounded,  and  some  fierce  Hurons  falling  upon  them  made 
them  snatch  their  arms  for  defense.  The  Indian  maiden 
seized  upon  this  opportunity  to  sever  the  thongs  that  confined 
her  lover ;  but  during  the  excitement  of  the  strife  they  \vere 
separated,  and  the  Huron  chief  carried  off  the  handsome 
Pequod  maiden  as  a  trophy.  Her  affianced  conceived  a  bold 
design  for  her  rescue,  and  boldly  carried  it  out.  A  wizard 
entered  the  Huron  camp.  The  maiden  was  taken  suddenly 
ill,  and  the  wizard  was  employed  to  prolong  her  life,  until  her 
capturer  could  satisfy  his  revenge  upon  Uncas,  chief  of  the 
Mohegans.  The  lovers  iled  at  nightfall,  and  shot  cut  into  the 
river  in  a  light  canoe,  followed  by  blood-thiisty  pursuers.  The 


334  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Pequod  paddled  his  beloved  one  to  the  mouth  of  the  Minnakee,. 
where  he  concealed  her ;  and,  single  handed,  fought  the 
Hurons,  and  finally  drove  them  off.  This  sheltered  nook  was. 
a  "safe  harbor"  for  her. 

We  append  a  copy  of  an  ancient  deed  on  file  in  the  County 
Clerk's  office  in  Poughkeepsie : 

THIS  INDENTURE  made  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  the 
Ninth  day  of  September,  in  the  Ninth  year  of  her  majesties 
Reigne  1710,  between  Myndert  Harmense  of  Duchess  County 
in  the  Province  of  New  York,  planter,  and  Helena  his  wife,  of 
the  one  part,  and  Leonard  Lewis,  of  New  York,  merchant,  of 
the  other  part,  Whereas  Col.  Peter  Schuyler  of  the  city  of 
Albany  by  Certain  Deed  made  under  his  hand  and  seale  bear 
ing  Date  the  Thirtyeth  Day  of  August  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
1699,  did  grant,  bargaine  and  Sell  unto  Robert  Sanders  and 
the  said  Myndert  Harmense  their  heirs  and  assigns  for  ever  all 
that  certain  tract  or  parcell  of  Land  scituate  Lying  and  being 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  River  in  Duchess  County  at  a 
certain  place  called  the  Long  Reach  slanting  over  against  Juf- 
frows  Hook  at  a  place  called  the  Rust  Plaats,  from  thence 
Eastward  into  the  woods  to  a  creek,  Called  by  the  Indians 
Pictavviikquasick,  known  by  the  Christians  Jan  Casperses  Creek, 
Northward  to  a  Water  Fall  where  the  saw  mill  belonging  to- 
Myndert  Hermanse  aforesaid  stands  upon,  and  so  southward 
alongst  the  Hudsons  River  aforesaid  to  the  said  Rust  Plaats: 
with  all  and  singular  its  appurtenances,  being  part  of  the  Lands 
granted  to  the  said  Peter  Schuyler  by  Coll.  Thomas  Dongan, 
Late  Gov.  of  this  Province  by  patent  dated  the  Second  Day 
of  June  1688,  *****  and  whereas  the  said  Thomas. 
Dongan,  by  patent  bearing  date  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  Octo 
ber  1686  did  grant  unto  the  said  Robert  Sanders  and  Myndert 
Harmse  a  certain  tract  of  land  containing  twelve  thousand 
acres  to  be  taken  in  one  entire  piece  out  of  the  lands  hereafter 
mentioned,  that  is  to  say  out  of  a  certain  Parcell  of  Land 
scituate  in  Duchess  County  aforesaid  called  Minnesinck  on  the 
East  side  of  Hudsons  River  to  the  North  of  the  Land  of 
Soveryn  Alias  called  the  Bakers  with  Arrable  Lands,  Wood 
lands  and  Marshes  with  the  creek  called  Wyhagkee  with  Tree 
Tones,  Range  and  outdrift  for  cattle  and  the  fall  of  waters 
called  Pendanick  Reen,  and  another  marsh  lying  to  the  north 
of  the  fall  of  waters  called  Wareskeehin  as  in  and  by  the  said 
Patent  relation  thereto  may  fully  and  at  large  appear,  and 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  335 

whereas  the  said  Robert  Sanders  has  since  deceased,  and 
thereby  the  said  Myndert  Harmense  as  survivor  is  become 
solely  vested  in  the  premises,  now  this  Indenture  witnesseth 
that  the  said  Myndert  Harmense,  by  and  with  the  consent  of 
Helena  his  wife,  by  these  presents  sell  unto  the  said  Leonard 
Lewis  for  and  in  ye  consideration  of  ^140  lawful  money  of 
New  York  all  those  two  tracts  and  Parcells  of  Land  scituate 
Lying  and  being  in  the  county  aforesaid,  and  part  of  the  above 
mentioned  premises,  the  one  begining  on  the  South  side  of  a 
certain  Pond  on  the  Partition  Line  of  Baltus  Van  Kleeck  with 
a  west  Line  to  the  Water  side,  and  so  along  the  water  side  to 
the  land  of  John  Kips  to  the  Northward  of  the  Creek  having 
Water  Falls  and  so  east  along  John  Kips  Land  to  the  Hill 
unto  the  Pine  Trees,  and  thence  southerly  to  the  east  of  the 
Pond  to  the  place  where  it  began,  with  the  whole  creek  and  all 
the  waterfalls  thereof  as  well  without  as  within  the  boundaries 
aforesaid  as  also  one  other  tract  beginning  on  the  north  side 
of  a  Piece  of  meadow  that  lyes  by  the  River  side  and  runs 
easterly  along  the  meadow  and  marsh  to  the  Sprout  called  the 
first  Sprout  which  makes  the  bounds  on  the  south  side  of  Peter 
Viele  and  Runns  along  the  said  Sprout  Easterly  unto  the  most 
Easterly  Part  of  the  first  Sprouts  Plain,  and  thence  East  North 
East  to  the  Creek  Having  Waterfalls,  and  so  along  the  said 
Creek  Southward  to  the  Land  of  John  Kips,  and  so  by  the 
said  Land  Westerly  to  Hudsons  River,  and  so  along  the  River 
Northerly  to  the  meadow  where  it  began,  with  privilege  of 
Cutting  Wood  and  Timber  in  the  woods,  to  make  hay  in  all 
the  meadows  and  outdrift  for  Cattle  and  Horses  in  all  the 
Lands  not  cultivated  of  the  said  Myndert  Harmense,  and 
together  with  all  and  singular  the  woods,  underwoods,  Trees, 
Timber,  Pastures,  Feedings,  Marshes,  Meadows,  Swamps, 
Stones,  Quarries,  Mines,  Mineralls  (Royall  Mines  Excepted) 
Pools,  Ponds,  Springs,  Waters,  Watercourses,  Rivers,  Rivoletts 
and  the  only  privilege  of  erecting  a  Mill  or  Mills  on  the  Great 
Creek  aforesaid,  without  stoppage  of  stream  or  water.  *  *  * 
to  Have  and  to  hold  the  above  bargained  and  hereby  to  be 
granted  Two  Tracts  of  Land,  Creek  and  all  others  the  Privi 
leges,  Comodities  and  Appurtenances  before  mentioned  unto 
him  the  said  Leonard  Lewis  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

MYNDERT  HARMENSE. 

Co.  Rec.  Deeds,  Book  A.  p.  251. 


Another  grant  of  land  is  recorded   by  which   the  relict  of 


336  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Robert  Sanders  convey  to  pieter  u  ziele  of  Duchess  Co.,  "  pro 
vided  the  said  pieter  u  ziele,  his  heirs  or  assignees  pay  yearly 
and  every  year  halfe  a  Bushel  of  good  winter  wheat  when  de 
manded,  to  commence  from  ye  fifth  day  of  September  1700  for 
quitt  Rent  into  the  sd  Myndert  Harmse  and  Thomas  Sanders 
or  their  heirs  or  assignees.  In  testimony  whereof  the  said 
Myndert  Harmense  and  Helena  his  wife  Elsie  Sanders  and 
Thomas  Sanders  have  hereunto  sett  their  hands  and  scales  att 
pagkeepsing  this  8th  day  of  June  1708. 

A  true  copy  recorded  and  examined,  per  me.  Henry  Van- 
derburgh,  Clerk,  March  the  nth  Ano  172!* 

Poughkeepsie  was  made  the  shire  town  of  DUCHESS  at  an 
early  period,  because,  as  the  record  says,  it  was  in  "  the  centra 
of  the  county."  The  settlements  were  at  that  time  confined 
to  the  neighborhood  of  the  river,  at  Fishkill,  Poughkeepsie, 
and  Rhinebeck,  and  intermediate  points.  The  first  log  houses 
were  built  upon  the  site  of  this  city  by  two  or  three  Dutch 
families,  in  1690.  The  first  substantial  house  was  built  of 
stone,  in  1702.  It  was  erected  by  Baltus  Van  Kleeck,  and 
stood  upon  Mill  street,  near  the  corner  of  the  present  Vassar 
Street.  It  was  one  story  in  height,  and  was  provided  with 
loop  holes  for  muskets,  as  a  defense  against  the  Indians — a 
common  practice  in  early  times.  The  stone  lintel  bearing  the 
monogram  of  Van  Kleeck,  that  was  over  its  door,  may  now  be 
seen  in  the  outer  basement  wall  of  the  dwelling  of  Mathew 
Vassar,  Esq.,  at  the  corner  of  Mill  and  Vassar  Streets. 

As  observed  in  another  part  of  this  work,f  the  first  build 
ing  for  a  court  house  was  ordered  to  be  built  in  1715  ;  and  a 
deed  for  the  land  on  which  the  present  court  house  stands 
was  conveyed  in  1718,  by  Henry  Van  de  Bogart  to  Barent 
Van  Kleeck.  The  house  was  not  completed  until  1746.  Its 
construction  was  authorized  by  the  Provincial  Legislature  in 
1743,  and  it  was  built  under  the  supervision  of  Commissioners, 


*  The  abovo  date  .may  l*o  road  17-'2or  17-?n.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find  f'.vo  dnt^s  eiven 
in  vorv  old  dec  men  Is.  Tii'<-  (Jiv-nrlan  y<  nr  ended  iH'Cvnib^r  .:\*\.  ;md  tin-  o'vil  year  .Maivli 
l'.',ili.  until  the-  y.-ar  I7"'-'.  v,  hen  the  dute.s  bcl\veou  January  l.-t  and  JUuieli  -,,;U  \veiv  iuted 
Ly  tin;  liri'gorhin  yearo"ly. 

t  Sec  pa  go  1.0-'. 


SOLDIERS' FOUNTAIN,  POUGHKEEPSIE,  N.  Y. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  337 

of  whom  Henry  Livingston  was  chief,  and  who  was  appointed 
to  receive  and  disburse  the  money  raised  for  the  purpose. 

The  first  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  General  Sessions, 
DUCHESS  County,  was  established  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  1734. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  order,  issued  by  his  excellency, 
William  Burnett,  Captain  General  and  Governor-in-Chief  of 
the  Provinces  of  New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Territories 
depending  thereon  in  America,  and  Vice  Admiral  of  the 
same,  etc.  : 

"  In  Council,  an  ordinance  for  establishing  a  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  and  a  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace 
in  DUCHESS  County,  in  the  Province  of  New  York  : 

"  Whereas,  in  the  establishment  of  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  and  the  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace,  hitherto  in  the 
County  of  DUCHESS,  over  against  the  County  of  Ulster,  there 
has  been  no  Courts  of  Common  Pleas  or  General  Sessions  of 
the  Peace  erected  and  established  to  be  holden  and  kept 
within  the  said  County,  but  the  inhabitants  of  the  said  County 
have  sometime  formerly  been  subjected  to  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  Justices  of  the  aforesaid  County  of  Ulster.  For  remedy 
whereof  for  the  future  I  have  thought  fit  by  and  with  the 
advice  and  consent  cf  his  Majesty's  Council  for  the  Province 
of  New  York,  and  by  virtue  of  the  power  and  authority  unto 
me  given  and  granted  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Great  Britain, 
and  do  hereby  Erect,  Establish,  and  Ordaine.  That  from 
henceforward  there  shall  be  held  and  kept  at  Poughkeepsie, 
near  the  centre  of  said  County,  a  General  Sessions  of  the 
Peace  on  the  third  Tuesday  in  May,  and  the  third  Tuesday  in 
October,  yearly,  and  every  year  forever ;  which  General 
Sessions  shall  not  continue  for  longer  than  two  days,  but  may 
finish  the  business  of  the  Sessions  possibly  in  one  day,  and 
that  from  henceforward  there  shall  be  held  and  kept  at 
Poughkeepsie  near  the  centre  of  said  County,  a  Court  of  Com 
mon  Pleas,  to  begin  the  next  day  after  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions  terminates,  and  then  only  if  business  requires,  hold 
and  continue  for  two  days  following,  and  no  longer,  with  the 
like  power  and  jurisdiction  as  other  Courts  of  Common  Pleas 
in  other  Counties  within  the  Province  of  New  York,  have  used 
and  enjoyed,  any  former  Ordinance,  Practice  or  Usage  to  the 
contrary  hereof  in  any  wise  notwithstanding. 


338  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

"  Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  at  arms  in  Council,  at 
Fort  George,  in  New  York,  the  sixth  day  of  July,  in  the 
seventh  year  of  the  Reign  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  George,  by 
the  Grace  of  God,  King  of  Great  Britain,  France  and  Ireland, 
Defender  of  the  Faith,  &c. 

VV.  BURNETT." 

This  Colonial  Court  House  was  burnt  in  1785,  and  was 
rebuilt  soon  after  at  a  cost  of  about  $12,000.  This  second 
Court  House  was  the  building  in  which  the  Convention  of  the 
People  of  the  State  met,  on  the  iyth  of  June,  1788,  to  delib 
erate  on  the  new  Constitution.  The  number  of  delegates  was 
sixty-one,  representing  twelve  counties.  DUCHESS  was  repre 
sented  by  Zephaniah  Platt,  Melancthon  Smith,  Jacobus  Swart- 
wout,  Jonathan  Aiken,  Ezra  Thompson,  Gilbert  Livingston,  and 
John  DeWitt.  Governor  George  Clinton  was  chosen  President 
of  the  Convention. 

In  the  Convention,  says  Lossing,  the  supporters  and  oppo 
nents  of  the  new  Constitution  were  about  equal  in  number. 
The  subject  had  been  ably  and  earnestly  discussed  in  print. 
Governor  Clinton  and  his  family  were  all  opposed  to  the 
measure.  His  brilliant  nephew,  DeWitt  Clinton,  then  a  young 
lawyer  of  New  York,  less  than  twenty  years  of  age,  had  written 
against  it  in  reply  to  Hamilton  in  the  Federalist,  and  he  at 
tended  the  Convention  here  and  reported  its  proceedings  for 
the  press.  In  April  of  that  year,  he  wrote  to  his  father,  Gen'l 
James  Clinton  : 

"  If  the  Constitution  is  adopted,  I  am  convinced  that 
several  people  who  now  warmly  advocate  its  adoption  will  ex 
claim — '  From  the  insolence  of  great  men  ;  from  the  tyranny 
of  the  rich  ;  from  the  unfeeling  rapacity  of  the  exciseman  and 
tax-gatherer  ;  from  the  misery  of  despotism  ;  from  the  expense 
of  supporting  standing  armies,  navies,  policemen,  sinecures, 
federal  cities,  senators,  presidents,  and  a  long  train  of  et  ceteras, 
Good  Lord  deliver  us.'  There  is  yet  no  prospect  of  its  being 
ratified." 

The   debates  in    the    Convention  were  long  and  earnest. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  339. 

The  principal  speakers  were  Alexander  Hamilton,*  John  Jay, 
and  Chancellor  Livingston,  in  favor  of  the  Constitution  ;  and 
John  Lansing,  William  Harper,  Robert  Yates,  and  George 
Clinton  against  it.  The  friends  of  the  Constitution  were 
gratified  and  strengthened  by  news  that  came  by  express  from 
Richmond,  Virginia,  which  arrived  on  the  2nd  of  July, 
announcing  the  ratification  of  the  instrument  by  that  State,  on 
the  25th  of  June,  by  a  majority  of  ten;  and  when  the  final 
vote  was  taken  in  the  Convention  at  Poughkeepsie,  on  the 
26th  of  July,  there  was  a  majority  of  only  one  in  favor  of  the 
Constitution.  That  single  vote  in  the  Court  House  at  Pough 
keepsie  decided  that  the  people  of  this  country  should  have  a  truly 
national  government,  with  all  its  attendant  blessings.  Four  of 
the  six  delegates  from  DUCHESS  voted  for  it,  namely — Platt, 
Smith,  Livingston  and  DeWitt.  Thompson  was  not  present. 
This  historic  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  Thursday 
night,  September  25th,  1808.  The  flames  were  discovered 
about  10  o'clock;  and  were  attributed  to  the  acts  of  some  of 
the  criminals  confined  in  the  jail.  None  of  the  public  docu 
ments  in  the  Clerk's  office  were  destroyed,  and  the  prisoners' 
were  removed  to  the  Farmers'  Hotel  kept  by  Amaziah1 
Blakealee,  on  Cannon  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  Duchess 
County  Academy.  The  latter  building  then  stood  on  the 
present  site  of  St.  Mary's  Catholic  Church.  On  the  28th  day 
of  October,  on  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  Court  House, 
the  Hon.  Smith  Thompson,  together  with  David  Brooks 
and  Robert  Williams,  held  the  October  term  of  the  Circuit 
Court  and  the  Court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  in  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church.  The  present  Court  House  was  ordered  to  be 
built  the  following  year  under  the  direction  of  James  Tall- 
madge,  John  B.  Van  Wyck,  and  John  Van  Benthuysen.  It  is 
of  stone,  50x100  feet,  and  cost  about  $24,000.  Its  walls  are 
covered  with  stucco. 


34°  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

The  Van  Kleeck  House,  already  referred  to,  was  closely 
associated  with  the  most  trying  scenes  in  our  country's  history. 
In  1774,  the  City  of  New  York  elected  James  Duane,  John 
Jay,  Philip  Livingston,  Isaac  Low,  and  John  Alsop,  delegates 
to  the  first  Continental  Congress.  The  DUCHESS  County 
Committee,  whose  meetings  upon  the  subject  were  held  in 
the  Van  Kleeck  house,  adopted  these  delegates  as  representa 
tives  for  their  district. 

When  the  state  government  was  organized,*  in  1777,  by: 
the  adoption  of  a  Constitution,  New  York  being  in  possession1 


VAN  KLEEK  HOUSE,  POUGHKEEPSIE. 

of  the  enemy,  the  first  Session  of  the  Legislature,  under  the  new 
order  of  things,  was  held  at  Kingston,  in  July  of  the  same  year. 
But  the  invasion  of  the  State  at  several  points — by  Burgoyne  on 
the  north,  by  St.  Leger  and  his  Indian  and  Tory  associates  at 
the  west,  and  by  Sir  Henry  Clinton  on  the  south — compelled 
Governor  Clinton  to  prorogue  that  body  until  the  first  of 
September.  No  quorum  was  present  until  the  gih ;  and  before 
any  laws  could  be  matured,  the  session  was  broken  up  early  in 


*  Lossing. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  341 

October,  by  the  approach  of  the  enemy  up  the  Hudson. 
Kingston  was  laid  in  ashes,  and  all  was  confusion.  As  soon  as 
the  alarm  had  subsided,  Governor  Clinton  called  a  meeting  of 
the  Legislature  at  Poughkeepsie.  It  assembled  in  the  Van 
Kleeck  House,  (then  a  tavern,)  early  in  January,  1778.  Various 
acts  to  complete  the  organization  of  tl\e  State  Government  were 
passed  ;  provisions  were  made  for  strengthening  the  civil  and 
military  powers  of  the  State,  and  it  was  during  that  session 
that  the  state  gave  its  a.csen.t  to  the  Articles  of  Confederation. 
This  building  was  the  meeting  place  of  the  inhabitants  to- 
consult  on  the  public  welfare,  when  the  Boston  Port  Bill  and 
kindred  measures  awakened  a  spirit  of  resistance  throughout 
the  country.  There  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  of 
DUCHESS  held  their  meetings ;  and  there  the  Pledge  to  sustain 
the  Continental  Congress  and  the  Pr^—'^—'ii  Assembly  was 


signed  by  the  inhabitants  of  Poughkeepsie,  in  June  and  Julyr 

1775- 

A'in  Le?,  founder  of  the  sect  called  Shakers,  was  confined 
in  this  house  in  1776,  charged  with  complicity  with  the  enemies 
of  Republicanism.  There  many  members  of  the  State 
Convention  in  1788,  who  met  to  consider  the  Federal  Consti 
tution,  found  a  home  during  the  session. 

About  half  a  mile  below  where  Livingston  Street  intersects 
Prospect  Street,  near  the  river,  stands  the  Livingston  Mansion. 
It  was  built  by  Henry  Livingston  in  1714,  and  is  a  fine 
specimen  of  a  country  mansion  of  that  period.  The  situation 


342  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

is  delightful,  completely  embosomed  among  venerable  trees, 
on  a  rising  knoll  near  the  river,  and  far  removed  from  the 
liurry  and  bustle  of  the  highway.  The  once  secluded  beauty 
and  quiet  of  the  place  has  been  rudely  interrupted  by  the 
passage  of  the  Hudson  River  Railroad  within  a  few  yards  of 
the  house.  Its  occupants  have  endeavored  to  preserve  its 
ancient  appearance  ;  and  even  the  orifice  in  the  side  of  the 
house  near  the  door,  made  by  a  cannon  ball  fired  from  one  of 
the  British  ships  which  conveyed  those  troops  up  the  river  that 
afterward  set  fire  to  Kingston,  is  preserved  with  care,  and 
shown  to  visitors  as  a  token  of  the  animosity  of  the  British 
against  active  Whigs. 

This  was  the  residence  of  Col.  Henry  A.  Livingston, 
•grandson  of  Philip  Livingston,  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
-Declaration  of  Independence.  He  died  June  9th,  1849. 
Although  living  in  retirement,  he  often  consented  to  serve  the 
public  in  important  offices,  and  was  never  known  to  be  absent 
a  day  from  his  post  in  the  Senate  Chamber,  or  in  the  Hall  of 
the  Court  of  Errors.  He. will  long  be  remembered  in  Pough- 
keepsie  as  one  of  its  best  citizens.  The  accompanying  cut  is 
from  a  sketch  made  by  the  writer  in  June,  1875,  at  which  time 
the  building  was  still  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.* 

Another  historic  building  is  the  Clear  Everett  House. 
Everett  was  at  one  time  Sheriff  of  the  county.  He  built  the 
ancient  stone  house  standing  on  Main  Street,  a  little  east  of 
Whitehouse's  Factory,  and  now  called  the  ''Washington  Hotel." 
When  the  flying  New  York  Legislature  left  Kingston,  and 
opened  a  session  at  the  VanKleeck  House,  Governor  Clinton 
took  up  his  residence  in  the  Everett  Mansion,  from  lime  to 
time,  during  the  war  and  afterwards.  In  that  house  were 
seated,  at  different  times,  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
Revolution.  There  LaFayette  was  entertained  early  in  1778, 
and  there  Governor  Clinton  was  visited  by  General  Washing- 


*  .Mr.  I'avis,  wlm  owns  tlic  strro  1  nnso  at  tlio  love'- iMiHli'".'.  Cavort  liis  propert 
injf  nit  hi*  dock,  waving  liis  lint  ai.tl  shoutiny  lustily,  "Ilir.'tiii  lor  Iviuy  LJcti 
the  liritibh  ships  bailed  L>y. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  343 

ton.  who  attended  a  session  of  a  Masonic  Lodge  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  In  that  house  Clinton  wrote  avast  number  of  letters, 
and  from  it  he  sent  forth  several  proclamations.  Among  the 
earlier  of  the  latter  documents  is  one  now  in  possession  of 
Lossing,  which  closes  thus  : 

"  Given  under  my  hand,  and  the  Privy  Seal  of  New  York, 
at  Poughkeepsie,  in  the  county  of  Dutchess,  the  23d  day  of 
February,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-eight. 
God  save  the  people." 

The  New  York  Gazette,  for  the  4th  of  July,  1781,  thus 
refers,  in  not  very  complimentary  terms,  to  the  Legislature 
here  : 

"  There  is  a  set  of  mob  legislators  met  at  Poughkeepsie ;  a 
little  time  will  show  whether  they  mean  to  expose  themselves 
to  all  the  vengeance,  of  which  the  majority  of  the  late  Assem 
bly  and  Senate  live  in  constant  dread,  many  of  them  changing 
their  lodgings  to  elude  the  search  of  the  avengers  of  the  inno 
cent  blood  they  have  shed.  Mr.  Clinton,  the  titular  Governor, 
has  fortified  his  hut  [the  fine  stone  mansion  of  Clear  Everett] 
against  a  sudden  surprise,  and  the  rebel  slaves  of  Poughkeepsie 
guard  it  every  night." 

The  allusions  in  this  paragraph  are  explained  by  a  letter 
written  at  Poughkeepsie,  by  Governor  Clinton  to  General 


(.  Irar  ICverett  House. 

Schuyler,  on  the  i4th  of  August,  congratulating  the  general 
because  of  his  narrow  escape  from  abduction  by  a  band  of 
Tories  and  Indians.  In  that  letter  Clinton  wrote  he  had 
received  a  dispatch  from  General  Washington  by  express, 
informing  him  that  a  party  had  been  sent  out  from  New  York 
to  seize  the  Governor,  and  deliver  him  to  the  British  authorities 


344  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

there,  for  which  service  they  were  to  receive  a  liberal  reward. 
"  I  have  persons  out  to  watch  their  movements,"  Clinton 
wrote,  "  and  am  not  without  hope  of  having  some  of  them,  at 
least  in  my  power.  This  is  the  third  party  which  has  been 
sent  out  on  this  business,  and  of  which  I  have  been  apprised 
during  the  course  of  the  Spring  and  Summer,  and  some  of 
them  have  met  their  fate  at  this  place,  though  for  different 
crimes." 

One  of  these,  referred  to  in  the  letter,  was  Huddlestone, 
the  British  spy,  who  was  captured  at  Wild  Boar  Hill,  in  West- 
chester  County,  near  Yonkers,  and  was  tried,  condemned  and 
hung  at  Poughkeepsie,  in  April,  1780.  The  place  of  execu 
tion  was  what  was  afterwards  known  as  Forbus  Hill ;  in  the 
rear  of  the  present  Nelson  House  in  Market  Street.  Mr. 
Lossing  mentions  having  heard  the  venerable  Abel  Gunn,  of 
Poughkeepsie,  who  was  a  drum  major  in  the  Continental  army, 
speak  of  Huddlestone,  and  of  his  execution.  He  described 
him  as  a  small  man  with  a  large  head  and  thick  neck.  He 
was  accompanied  to  the  scaffold  by  the  county  officers,  and  a 
small  guard  of  militia  enrolled  for  the  purpose. 

The  old  stone  house  on  Market  Street  was  erected  in  1741, 
by  a  Swede  named  Von  Beck,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was 
occupied  by  him  as  a  hotel.  It  afterward  passed  into  the 
hands  of  a  Mr.  Knox,  who  also  used  it  for  hotel  purposes.  It 
was  at  that  time,  probably,  one  of  the  finest  houses  of  enter 
tainment  on  the  post  road  between  New  York  and  Albany. 
The  house  is  of  curious  construction,  the  front  being  of  brick, 
said  to  have  been  imported  for  this  purpose  from  Holland  by 
Von  Bsck.  The  back  and  end  walls  are  of  stone,  while  the 
gable  ends  are  of  brick.  On  the  rear  wall  is  a  stone  bearing 
the  date  1741. 

Four  miles  below  the  city  is  an  ancient  farm  house,  and  a 
mill,  at  the  mouth  of  Spring  Brook,  at  the  eastern  terminus 
of  Milton  Ferry.  Here  during  the  Revolution  lived  Theophi- 
lus  Anthony,  blacksmith,  farmer,  miller,  and  staunch  Whig, 
who  used  his  forge  for  making  the  great  chain  that  stretched 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  345 

across  the  river  at  Fort  Montgomery.  Vaughan,  in  his 
memorable  expedition  up  the  Hudson  in  the  Autumn  of  1777, 
laid  the  rebel  blacksmith's  mill  in  ashes,  and  caused  Anthony 
to  be  confined  in  the  Jersey  Prison  Ship  in  New  York.  Three 
years  afterward,  Anthony's  mill  arose  from  the  ashes  of  the 
old  one. 

The  following  letter  relates  to  the  construction  of  the  chain 
above  spoken  of: 

FISHKILL,  Sept.  nth,   1776. 

SIR  : — It  is  conceived  highly  necessary  that  the  Iron  Chain 
should  be  immediately  dispatched.  If  it  is  finished,  pray  send 
it  down  to  the  fort  without  delay.  If  it  is  not  finished,  let  no 
time  be  lost,  and  in  the  interim  give  us  the  earliest  particular 
account  of  its  present  state,  and  when  it  will  be  probably 
finished.  I  am  sir,  your  very  humble  servant, 

WILLIAM  YATES,  JUN. 

To  Gilbert  Livingston,  Esq.,  Poughkeepsie. 

A  few  years  since  a  cruel  instrument  of  warfare  was 
picked  up  in  the  locality  of  the  forge,  and  is  now  in  possession 
of  a  friend  of  the  writer.  The  implement  of  torture  was 
made  of  iron,  with  three  sharp  prongs  projecting  in  such  a 
way  that  one  prong  would  point  upwards  in  whatever  position 
the  instrument  lay.  It  was  intended  to  be  thrown  in  the  way 
of  cavalry,  to  disable  the  horses. 

Toryism  prevailed  extensively  in  DUCHESS  when  the  War 
for  Independence  broke  out.  In  fact,  the  inhabitants  were 
about  equally  divided  into  Whigs  and  Tories.  In  the  summer 
of  1776  an  insurrection  broke  out  in  the  county  against  the 
authority  of  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  insurgents  went 
about  in  small  numbers  and  disarmed  Whigs,  and  at  one  time 
the  outbreak  was  so  formidable  that  militia  came  from 
Connecticut  to  aid  in  putting  down  the  revolters.  Many 
arrests  were  made  ;  and  the  jail  at  Poughkeepsie  being  full, 
some  were  sent  to  the  jail  in  the  adjoining  county  of 
Litch  field. 

In  March  cf  the  previous  year,  a  few  Whigs  met   at  the 


346  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

house  of  John  Bailey,  about  three  miles  east  from  Poughkeep- 
sie,  and  erected  a  Liberty  Pole  with  a  flag  on  it  bearing  the 
words  "  The  King,"  on  one  side,  and  "  The  Congress  and 
Liberty"  on  the  other.  The  Sheriff  of  DUCHESS  County 
attended  by  a  judge  of  the  inferior  court,  and  "  two  of  his 
Majesty's  Justices  of  the  Peace  and  a  constable,"  with  some 
other  Tories,  cut  down  the  pole  "  as  a  public  nuisance."  This 
act  no  one  dared  to  repeat  the  next  year  in  Poughkeepsie,  for 
then  the  fires  of  the  Revolution  were  burning  brighter  and 
more  decided. 

When  the  news  of  the  suirender  of  Cornwallis  sent  a  thrill 
of  joy  throughout  the  land,  it  was  received  with  delight  by  the 
patriotic  citizens  of  Duchess  County.  The  news  reached 
Poughkeepsie  on  the  2Qth  day  of  October.  The  Legislature 
was  then  in  session  here,  says  Lossing,  and  both  Houses,  with 
the  Governor,  proceeded  to  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and 
there  offered  thanksgivings  to  God  for  the  great  deliverance. 
The  Rev.  John  H.  Livingston  officiated  on  that  occasion. 
From  the  church  the  members  of  the  Legislature  went  out  to 
the  residence  of  the  Governor  to  tender  their  congratulations. 
Cannon  were  fired,  bonfires  were  lighted,  and  the  houses  of 
Whig  citizens  were  illuminated  in  the  evening. 

At  that  time  there  were  only  two  stores  in  Poughkeepsie, 
one  kept  by  Eeekman  Livingston,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Park  House,  corner  of  Market  and  Cannon  Streets,  and  the 
other  by  Archibald  Stewart,  "  adjoining  the  Dutch  Church." 
Each  kept  a  general  assortment  of  dry  goods,  groceries,  drugs 
and  hardware.  On  the  occasion  just  alluded  to,  Beekman's 
store  was  illuminated.  Stewart  was  a  Scotchman  and  Loyalist, 
and  his  store  was  "  darkened,"  so  to  speak,  by  the  light  of  a 
single  tallow  clip. 

On  the  day  of  rejoicing  here,  a  scouting  party  returning  to 
a  militia  camp  near  the  village  (the  "  rebel  slaves  of  Pough 
keepsie")  met  another  party  just  going  out,  when  a  negro 
belonging  to  the  former  called  out  to  one  of  the  latter,  "  I  say, 
Cuffee,  what  all  dat  firing  we  hear  to-day?"  The  other  replied, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  347 

*l  Oh,  my  dear  soul,  nuffin'  'tall,  only  Burgoyne  had  a  brudder 
"born  to-day  !" 

As  before  stated,  when  the  first  enumeration  of  the  inhabi 
tants  of  DUCHESS  County  was  made,  [1714]  the  number  was 
only  445,  °f  whom  67  were  freeholders,  and  27  were  negro 
slaves.  The  most  extensive  slaveholders  in  our  county  at  that 
time  were  Baltus  Van  Kleeck  and  Dirck  Wessels,  who  owned 
five  slaves  each.  Poughkeepsie  increased  slowly  in  popula 
tion  ;  and  in  1737,  when  the  county  was  assessed  to  build  the 
Colonial  Court  House,  the  assessment  of  Poughkeepsie  was 
less  than  $2,500  against  $5,000  for  Rhinebeck.  One  hundred 
years  ago  it  was  a  hamlet  of  not  more  than  150  persons,  yet  it 
made  quite  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  stirring  history  of  that 
time. 

It  was  selected  as  one  of  the  places  in  1775,  where  vessels 
of  the  Continental  Navy  were  to  be  built ;  and  here,  in  1776, 
the  frigates  Congress  and  Montgomery  were  constructed  under 
the  surpervision  of  Captains  Lawrence  and  Tudor.  One  or 
two  fire-ships  with  fire-arrows  were  fitted  out  here  by  Captain 
Hazlewood,  in  the  Summer  of  1776.  The  frigates  were  not 
completed  and  armed  before  late  in  the  Autumn  of  1776; 
they  were  wintered  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rondout  Creek.  The 
Continental  Navy  Yard  was  on  the  site  of  the  late  Edward 
Southwick's  tannery,  near  the  Lower  Landing.  The  following 
papers  relate  to  the  building  and  launching  of  the  frigates  : 

In  Nov.,  1776,  the  shipwrights  employed  on  public  works 
at  Poughkeepsie  petitioned  the  Convention  of  New  York  for 
an  increase  of  wages.  Everything  was  advancing  in  price,  and 
the  wages  for  journeymen  was  8s.,  and  los.  for  the  foreman. 
The  lowest  price  they  agreed  to  take  was  us.  and  a  half  pint 
of  rum  per  day  for  the  journeymen,  and  145.  and  a  half  pint 
of  rum  per  day  for  the  foreman. 

"  Yours  came  to  hand.  We  advise  you  by  all  means  to 
launch  the  frigates  as  soon  as  you  can,  and  then  proceed  with 
the  vessels  to  the  place  most  safe  in  Rondout  Creek,  near 
Esopus  Landing.  We  are  sensible  of  the  custom  to  give  a 
treat  to  the  workmen  after  launching,  nor  do  we  know  that 


348  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

$1.00  for  each  is  too  much.  We  would  recommend  that  you 
give  it  careful  consideration,  that  you  may  not  be  blamed  of 
extravagance,  nor  we  of  giving  sanction  thereto." 

FROM  COMMITTEE  OF  STATE. 

At  the  close  of  February,  1776,  the  navigation  of  the 
Lower  Hudson  was  unimpeded  by  ice,  and  vessels  sailed  freely 
between  New  York  and  Poughkeepsie  the  first  week  in  March. 
Congress  having  ordered,  as  before  observed,  the  construction 
of  two  naval  vessels  at  Poughkeepsie,  accordingly,  on  the  7th 
of  March  of  that  year,  workmen  and  materials  were  conveyed 
to  that  place  in  a  sloop  from  New  York.  Before  the  middle 
of  that  month,  a  sloop  came  down  from  Albany  laden  with 
lumber  from  the  mills  of  General  Schuyler  at  Saratoga,  for  the 
ship-yard  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  heavy  cannon,  and  eight  tons 
of  powder  and  stores  arrived  at  Albany,  by  a  similar  convey 
ance,  for  the  army  in  Canada.  The  Upper  Hudson  and  the 
Jakes  were  clear  of  ice  early  in  April — a  circumstance  that  had 
not  occurred  in  many  years. 

Seven  Tories  were  at  one  time  committed  to  the  jail  at 
Poughkeepsie,  for  robbing  a  number  of  houses.  They  were 
all  painted  and  dressed  like  Indian  men,  but  it  was  found  that 
five  of  them  were  women,  including  a  mother  and  her  two 
daughters. 

Samuel  Geake,  an  emissary  of  Sir  Henry  Clinton,  enlisted 
in  Captain  Swartwout's  Company  while  at  Poughkeepsie,  in 
the  character  of  a  recruit ;  and,  insinuating  himself  into  the 
good  graces  of  the  officers  of  Fort  Schuyler,  acquired  much 
valuable  information  respecting  the  means,  designs  and  expec 
tations  of  the  Americans.  He  was  suspected,  arrested,  tried 
by  court  martial  as  a  spy,  and  condemned  to  death.  He  was 
spared,  however,  as  a  witness  against  Major  Hammell,  another 
recreant  American,  who  accompanied  him  to  Poughkeepsie, 
ani  who  was  under  arrest  at  that  time.  Geake  confessed  that 
he  was  employed  for  the  crime  of  which  he  was  accused.  He 
said  that  Major  Hammell  who  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the 
British,  had  espoused  their  cause,  and  was  promised  a  colonelcy 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  349 

in  the  British  army,  and  that  he  [Geake]  was  to  receive  the 
commission  of  Lieutenant  as  soon  as  he  should  return  to  New- 
York  from  Fort  Schuyler. 

Samuel  Loudon,*  of  Fishkill,  was  State  printer  until  he 
found  a  rival  in  John  Holt,  who  set  up  his  press  in  Pough- 
keepsie.  Holt  published^he  New  York  Jjurnal^  and  like 
Loudon,  had  fled  to  a  place  of  safety,  first  to  Kingston,  and 
then  to  Poughkespsie.  Three  days  before  Holt's  death,  in 
1784,  Loudon  petitioned  for  the  State  printing,  preferring  his- 
claims  on  the  following  grounds  : 

"That  your  Memorialist's  family  is  numerous  and  expen 
sive  (being  twenty  in  number)  and  it  will  take  considerable 
employment  in  the  profession  of  a  Printer,  to  yield  them  a 
moderate  support. 

"  That  your  Memorialist  has  suffered  much  loss  in  the 
course  of  the  War,  not  only  by  the  depreciation  of  the  Paper 
Money,  but  by  the  detention  of  both  Public  and  Private 
debts,  and  have  now  to  begin  the  world,  though  at  an  age 
considerably  advanced. 

"  That  your  Memorialist  has  brought  up  his  oldest  son,  a 
native  of  this  [New  York]  Cit>,  after  a  liberal  education,  and 
has  been  taught  the  Printing  Business,  and  is  esteemed  an 
accurate  compositor,  and  that  your  Memorialist  has  a  number 
of  other  good  Workmen  employed  in  the  Printing  Business. 

"  That  your  Memorialist  printed  the  Journal  of  the  Legis 
lature  of  both  Houses,  while  at  Fishkill,  and  at  a  time  when 
no  other  Printer  in  the  State  would  do  them,  as  at  that  time, 
paper  was  extremely  dear  and  scarce,  they  were  printed  to  the 
approbation  of  his  employers,  and  he  is  now  ready  to  print  the 
Laws  or  Journals  of  both  Houses  (should  it  be  thought 
eligable  to  give  him  both)  on  as  moderate  terms  as  the  price 
of  paper  and  the  wages  of  workmen  will  admit." 

The  first  preaching  in  DUCHESS  County  was  probably  by 
ministers  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church.  Two  societies  of 
that  denomination  were  formed  in  the  county  in  the  year  1716, 
by  the  Rev.  Peter  Vas,  of  Kingston  : — one  being  located  at 
Poughkeepsie,  and  the  other  at  Fishkill.  These  were  the  first 
organized  churches  in  DUCHESS. 

*See  pa^c   192. 


350  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

A  deed  of  land  was  given  in  1718,  tor  the  use  of  the  inhab 
itants  of  Poughkeepsie  for  a  burial  place,  and  plot  for  a  meet 
ing-house,  wherein  the  worship  of  God  was  to  be  conducted  in 
the  Low  Dutch  language.  The  deed  bears  date  December 
26,  1718,  and  was  acknowledged  before  Leonard  Lewis.  The- 
ground  deeded  was  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Market  Streets, 
The  older  inhabitants  will  remember  the  mean  old  buildings 
which  covered  that  ground  until  the  year  1830,  beneath  which 
were  the  remains,  thickly  planted,  of  the  earlier  people  of 
Poughkeepsie.  In  that  year  these  remains  were  removed,  and 
the  fine  buildings  which  now  cover  the  front  of  the  ground 
were  erected.  The  late  Gilbert  Brewster  built  several  of  them, 
and  that  corner  of  Main  and  Market  Street  was  long  known 
as  "  Brewster's  Corner." 

The  entire  plot  was  devoted  to  burials.  As  the  city  grew 
this  ground  was  wanted  for  building  lots.  At  first  the  desecra 
tion  was  permitted  so  far  as  to  allow  the  inhabitants  to  put 
buildings  upon  the  ground,  but  were  not  allowed  to  have  any 
cellars  under  them.  In  a  little  while,  human  bones  began  to 
appear  about  the  streets,  and  around  the  dumping  grounds — 
the  people  being  inclined  to  transcend  their  privileges  some 
what,  some  excavating  underneath  their  houses  unobserved. 
Finally  the  ground  was  dug  over,  the  bones  carefully  picked 
out,  and  placed  in  a  vault  to  the  rear  of  the  Smith  Brothers 
restaurant. 

The  first  Reformed  Dutch  Church  edifice*  was  built  on  the 
opposite  side  of  Main  Street ;  and  there,  in  the  rear  of  the 
store,  may  be  seen  the  graves  and  gravestones  of  a  burial 
ground  attached  to  that  meeting  house.  It  was  demolished 
about  the  year  1819,  when  the  one  was  erected  that  was  burned 
in  January,  1857,  and  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present 
First  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Poughkeepsie. 

The   Dutch   Reformed   Church   in  this  country  (the   exact 

*  Bailey  says  a  house  of  worship  was  built  previous  to  this,  situated  south  of  Main 
Street,  on  this  plot.  It  was  erected  about  the  year  1720,  of  stone;  it  had  a  hipped  roof,  with 
a  moderate  tower  in  front.  The  tower  extended  above  the  peak  of  the  roof  a  short  distance, 
where  the  bell  was  suspended.  This  was  surmounted  wiih  a  tapering  spire*  Tne  entrance. 
was  in  the  tower,  which  fronted  Main  Street. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  351 

counterpart  of  that  in  Holland)  adhered  to  the  custom  of  hav 
ing  preaching  in  the  Low  Dutch  language,  with  great  tenacity. 
The  first  of  these  churches  in  America  were  planted  at  New 
York  (the  Nieu  Amsterdam),  Flatbush,  Esopus  and  Albany. 
That  at  New  York  was  founded  at  or  before  the  year  1639.  It 
was  the  established  religion  of  the  colony,  until  its  surrender  to 
the  English  in  1674,  when  the  Church  of  England  took  its 
place. 

The  first  judicatory  higher  than  a  consistency  among  this 
people  was  a  coetus  formed  in  1747,  with  no  higher  object 
than  that  of  advice  and  fraternal  intercourse.  The  first  regu 
lar  classis  was  formed  in  1757,  which  involved  the  church  in 
unhappy  collisions,  two  powerful  parties  being  formed  within 
its  bosom  which  carried  on  a  war  of  words  for  several  years, 
and,  at  times,  threatened  the  church.  It  was,  in  a  large  degree, 
alienated  from  the  mother  church  in  Holland.  Finally,  in 
1766,  John  H.  Livingston  (the  father  of  the  late  Colonel 
Henry  A.  Livingston,  of  Poughkeepsie)  went  from  New  York 
to  Holland,  to  prosecute  his  studies,  in  preparation  for  the  min 
istry,  in  the  Dutch  universities.  He  was  then  a  young  man ; 
but  his  representations  produced  a  favorable  disposition  toward 
the  American  church.  Its  membership  declined,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  persistence  in  preaching  in  the  Dutch  language, 
and  Dr.  Laidlic,  a  native  of  Scotland,  was  the  first  minister  of 
that  church  in  America,  who  was  expressly  called  to  preach  in 
the  English  language. 

Mr.  Livingston  was  a  native  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  received 
the  degree  of  D.  D.  at  Utrecht,  in  Holland,  in  1779.  During 
a  portion  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  he  preached  in  the  Dutch 
language  in  the  first  Dutch  Reformed  Church  built  in  Pough 
keepsie.  He  was  appointed  President  of  the  college  at  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J.,  in  1807,  and  there  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life,  prolonged  till  1825. 

There  was  no  settled  pastor  over  the  Dutch  Churches  of 
Poughkeepsie  and  Fishkill  for  several  years  after  their  organiza 
tion.  They,  however,  enjoyed  the  occasional  services  of  the 


352  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Revs.  Peter  Vas,  of  Kingston,  Gualterus  Dubois,  of  New 
York,  Vincentius  Antonides,  of  Kings  County,  and  Mr.  Van 
Deusen,  of  Albany. 

The  first  minister  regularly  called  and  settled  over  them 
was  the  Rev.  Cornelius  Van  Schie,  who  was  sent  by  the 
Classis  of  Amsterdam,  in  the  year  1731,  fifteen  years  after  the 
churches  were  organized.  The  following  persons  constituted 
the  first  consistory  of  the  Dutch  church  at  Poughkeepsie : 
Elders,  Peter  Palmatier,  and  Johannis  Van  Kleeck ;  Deacons, 
Lawrens  Van  Kleeck  and  Myndert  Vanderbogart.  Van  Schie 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Benjamin  Meinema,  whose  call  bears 
date  1745,  and  who  remained  pastor  of  the  churches  till  the 
year  1758.  The  third  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Jacobus  Van  Nist. 
His  ministry  was  short,  for  he  died  in  early  life.  He  was 
buried  in  the  church  yard  at  Fishkill,  where  his  tomb  stone 
was  accidentally  discovered  while  some  men  were  digging  a 
grave. 

The  death  of  Van  Nist  occurred  about  the  period  of  the 
unhappy  strife  between  the  Coetus  and  Conferentia  parties. 
In  1763  the  Conferentia  party  of  Poughkeepsie,  Fishkill, 
Hopewell,  and  Rhinebeck,  united  in  sending  a  call  to  the 
classis  of  Amsterdam,  to  be  disposed  of  according  to  its 
wishes.  That  body  appointed  Rev.  Isaac  Rysdyck  pastor  over 
the  churches,  who  was  regularly  installed.  On  the  nth  of  Dec., 
1769,  the  Coetus  party  presented  a  call  to  Henricus  Schoon- 
maker,  a  candidate  for  the  ministry,  which  call  was  accepted. 
So  vehement  was  the  opposition  of  the  opposing  faction  to  Mr. 
Schoonmaker,  that  at  the  time  of  his  installation  in  Pough 
keepsie,  they  forcibly  closed  the  doors  against  him,  and  the 
services  took  place  under  an  old  apple-tree  not  far  distant 
from  the  present  site  of  the  First  Dutch  Church.  Peace 
being  again  restored,  Mr.  Rysdyck  relinquished  his  charge  of 
the  church  in  Poughkeepsie,  and  confined  himself  mainly  to 
the  care  of  the  churches  of  New  Hackensack,  Hopewell,  and 
Fishkill,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  November  2nd,  1790. 
He  died  very  suddenly,  from  paralysis.  The  congregation  had 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


353 


assembled  that  morning  for  services,  when  a  messenger  arrived 
and  informed  them  that  Rysdyck  was  dead.  He  was  found 
alone  in  his  room,  with  his  comp'eted  manuscript  sermon  before 
him.  His  remains  were  placed  beneath  the  floor  in  front  of 
the  pulpit  (an  ancient  Dutch  custom)  in  the  old  church  at 
New  Hackensack.  When  the  old  edifice  was  taken  down  in 
1834,  they  were  removed  to  the  burying  ground. 

In  the  year  1800,  a  few  Baptists  began  to  meet  for  social 
worship  in  this  place.  They  had  but  little  preaching.  Mr. 
PaLner  was  one  of  their  first  preichers.  A  council  met  at 
George  Parker's,  June  loth,  1807,  and  organized  a  church  of 
1 6  members.  Francis  Wayland,  Sen.,  was  their  first  pastor, 
who  remained  with  them  four  years,  during  which  time  they 
built  a  house  of  worship.  Rev.  John  Lawson,  a  missionary, 
when  on  his  way  to  India,  preached  for  them  some  time.  He 


Old  Quaker  Church,  Mill  Street. 

was  succeeded  by  Lewis  Leonard,  of  Massachusetts.  In  1815 
a  Convention  met  with  them  at  their  request,  and  organized 
the  Hudson  River  Association.* 

Aaron  Parker  succeeded  Leonard  as  pastor,  remaining  one 
year.  Their  next  pastor  was  Rtifus  Babcock,  Jr.,  who  was 
ordained  with  them.  He  continued  there  three  years  and  was 
much  esteemed.  He  was  succeeded  by  R.  W.  Cushman,  and 
Hutchinson.  In  1826,  Rev.  A.  Perkins  returned,  and  was 
their  pastor  four  years.  In  1839,  the  church  again  obtained 
the  services  of  Rufus  Babcock.  D.  D.,  who  served  them  as 

*  This  asssociation  at  one  time  numbered  over  12,000  members. 

W 


354  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

pastor  three  years  more  with  abundant  success,  when  he 
resigned  to  engage  in  the  important  duties  of  Corresponding, 
Secretary  of  the  American  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Their 
house  of  worship,  which  had  just  then  been  erected,  cost 
$20,000,  one  half  of  which  was  given  by  Mathew  Vassar,  a 
member  of  the  congregation.  Thomas  S.  Ranney  and  wife, 
Missionaries  to  Birmah,  were  for  several  years  members  of 
this  church. 

An  aged  resident  mentions  an  old  Methodist  Meeting 
House — probably  the  first  of  that  denomination  in  Poughkeep- 
sie — which  at  one  time  stood  in  the  vicinity  of  the  burying 
ground  between  Main  Street  dock  and  the  Lower  Landing 
It  was  a  plain  edifice,  and  unpainted ;  it  had  no  steeple,  and 
was  never  finished  on  the  inside. 

The  cemetery  north  of  Poughkeepsie,  on  the  Hyde  Park 
road,  was  the  ground  used  by  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church 
and  society  for  burial  purposes,  after  the  old  grounds  on 
Market  street  were  given  up.  Here  may  be  seen  the  monu 
ments  of  some  of  the  oldest  residents.  Near  the  southern 
borders  of  the  city,  below  Montgomery  street,  is  the  old 
Episcopal  burying  ground.  Elegant  residences  are  springing 
up  around  it ;  and  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  the  busy  throng 
contrast  strangely  with  the  solemn  stillness  of  the  sacred 
enclosure.  Here,  too  are  monuments  marking  the  resting 
place  of  the  ancient  buried  dead,  shaded  by  venerable  trees, 
and  hidden  by  dense  underbrush. 

During  the  week  ending  Nov.  4,  1806,  at  a  Court  held  in 
the  village  of  Poughkeepsie,  Judge  Daniel  D.  Tompkins  pre 
siding,  Jesse  Wood  was  tried  and  convicted  for  the  murder 
of  his  son,  Joseph  Wood,  and  sentenced  to  be  executed  on  the 
5th  of  the  following  December.  The  circumstances  attending 
the  murder  were  these  :  Joseph  and  his  brother  were  engaged 
in  a  quarrel.  The  dispute  rose  to  such  a  pitch  that  Joseph  shot 
his  brother,  fatally  wounding  him.  The  father  hearing  the 
report  of  the  gun,  hastened  to  the  scene  and  found  one  of  them 
upon  the  ground  bleeding,  and  Joseph  standing  over  him  with 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


355 


a  gun.  The  father  snatched  the  weapon  away,  and  each  tried 
to  assist  the  wounded  brother.  In  this  position  they  were  dis 
covered  by  other  parties,  and  the  brother  soon  expired.  At 
the  trial  Joseph  accused  his  father  of  having  committed  the 
deed,  and  the  father  as  strenuously  accused  the  son.  The 
wounded  brother  was  unable  to  tell  which  was  the  guilty  one  ; 
and  as  the  father  had  the  gun  in  his  hand  when  first  seen,  the 
preponderance  of  evidence  was  against  him,  and  he  was  exe 
cuted.  Joseph  some  years  after,  when  on  his  death  bed,  con 
fessed  that  he  himself  was  the  murderer,  and  that  his  father  was 
innocent  of  the  crime  for  which  he  was  hung.  A  man  named 


Court  House. 


Shaffer  was  tried  about  the  same  time,  having  murdered  his 
sister  by  splitting  her  skull  open  with  an  ax.  The  evidence 
being  conclusive,  he  too  was  sentenced  to  suffer  the  extreme 
penalty  of  the  law. 

Executions  in  those  days  took  place  in  public,  and  were 
made  the  occasions  of  a  general  gathering  of  the  people  for 
miles  around.  The  gallows  on  which  Shaffer  and  Wood  were 
hung  was  erected  on  the  grounds  a  short  distance  below  the 
southern  terminus  of  South  Hamilton  street,  between  the  resi 
dence  of  Hon.  J.  O.  Whitehouse  and  Springside.  Thousands 
upon  thousands  were  present,  covering  all  the  surrounding 
elevations. 

The  morning  of  the  execution  opened  bright  and  clear. 
Joseph  Thorn,  Sheriff  of  DUCHESS  County,  had  previously  is 
sued  an  order  to  Capt.  Slee,  directing  him  to  parade  his  com 
pany  of  artillery,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  the  condemned 


3 5^  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

to  the  place  of  execution.  At  about  10  o'clock,  the  Sheriff 
entered  the  cell  of  the  prisoners,  which  was  on  the  lower  floor 
of  the  old  court  house,  where  he  found  them  in  charge  of  their 
spiritual  advisers,  and  apparently  resigned  to  their  fate.  After 
-securing  their  limbs  to  prevent  their  escape,  the  Sheriff  led 
them  forth  into  the  corridor,  where  they  were  permitted  to  take 
•final  leave  of  their  friends.  Then,  accompanied  by  the  minis 
ters,  they  were  taken  outside,  placed  in  a  close  carriage,  and 
driven  to  the  scaffold. 

The  prisoners  approached  the  fatal  instrument  with  a  firm 
Step,  and  retained  their  nerve  to  the  last.  Everything  being  in 
readiness,  the  condemned  were  at  once  placed  upon  the  gal 
lows,  which  was  of  the  old  drop  style.  Jesse  Wood,  to  the  last, 
persisted  in  declaring  his  innocence;  and  the  spectators  were 
greitly  shocked  at  this  apparent  hardened  iniquity  in  giving  ut 
terance  to  what  they  supposed  a  falsehood  at  the  very  threshold 
of  eternity.  The  death  warrant  was  read  to  the  condemned, 
•followed  by  prayer  by  the  clergymen.  After  being  permitted  to 
*hake  hands  with  those  who  accompanied  them,  the  black  cap 
•was  drawn,  and  they  were  launched  into  another  world.  We 
believe  these  to  have  been  the  last  public  executions  in 
DUCHESS  County. 

"  Sitting  with  a  file  of  the  Political  Barometer  before  us, 
bearing  date  1809,  published  in  Poughkeepsie  every  Wednes 
day  morning,  by  Joseph  Nelson,  five  doors  south  of  the  Court 
House,  we  are  for  the  time  being  carried  back  to  days  of 
'auld  lang  syne'  in  our  local  history.  It  is  a  long  look  back; 
and  time  has  wrought  many  changes  during  the  period  that  has 
elapsed  since  these  sheets  were  issued  fresh  from  the  press.  No 
One  can  deny  that  the  newspaper  reflects  the  spirit  and 
progress  of  the  age  to  an  extent  more  marked  than  any  other 
One  thing.  An  antique  and  strangely  arranged  sheet  it  is ; 
decidedly  out  of  proportion  as  to  length  and  breadth,  and  the 
Old-fashioned  "  s  "  (f)  playing  a  prominent  part.  The  reading 
matter  is  of  the  most  solid  and  uninteresting  character;  while 
the  local  news  is  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  advertise- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  357 

ments,    and    there    must  we  look  for  items  of  interest."     We 
give  below  a  few  of  the  more  striking  : 

Cunningham  &  Smith,  two  doors  west  of  Post  Office,  offer 
bargains  in  dry  goods  of  all  descriptions,  also  rums,  brandies, 
gins,  salt,  hardware,  crockery,  hollow  ware,  &c. 

Benj.  Herrick  adds  to  these  commodities,  log-wco:!, 
leather,  drugs,  wagons,  &c. 

Samuel  Mulford  and  Nicholas  Power,  Tun.,  announce  their 
co-partnership  for  carrying  on  the  dry-goods  business  in  the 
yellow  store  opposite  Paul  Schenck's,  Main  Street. 

Samuel  Slee  gives  notice  that  he  has  purchased  the  stock 
in  trade  of  Seelhorst  &  Co.,  in  the  Hardware  Ironmonger  and 
bar  iron  business. 

John  Ryan  carried  on  a  grocery  business    under  the  hotel 

Baltus  Van  Kleeck  &  Co.,  offer  for  sale  dyers  and  fullers- 
articles,  drugs,  medicines,  &c.  They,  [as  all  other  merchants 
did  at  that  time.]  offer  to  take  country  produce  in  payment. 

John  L.  Holthuysen  carried  on  the  lime  and  lumber 
business  at  the  Lower  Landing. 

David  Phillips  has  for  sale  one  lot  on  the  corner  of 
Washington  and  Mill  Street,  five  lots  on  Main,  and  two  houses 
and  lots  on  the  corner  of  Academy  and  Main. 

Cantillons  &  Collins  offer  for  sale  the  noted  estate  called 
Cantillons  Landing,  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Hudson.  County 
of  Duchess,  seven  miles  north  of  Poughkeepsie. 

Francis  L.  Eerier  conducted  a  French  Academy  at  the 
house  of  Ephraim  T.  Paine,  Esq.,  Main  Street.  Mrs.  Paine 
had  a  school  in  the  same  building.  It  would  appear  that  the 
streets  wer^  not  numbered  at  the  time,  as  none  are  given. 

The  following,  copied  from  the  ancient  records  in  Pough 
keepsie,  show  the  form  of  a  legal  instrument  in  olden  times : 

)  Thomas  Sanders,  lustice  of  the 

Dutchess  County  j-  ss.     peac£  for  ^  ^J  my  ^^ 

To  all  Constables  and  other  officers  as  well  within; 

j-j     ^  -,     said  county  as  elsewhere  within  the  Collony  of  Ne\v 

York,  to  whom  the  execution   r.ereof  doth  or  may 

concern,  Greeting. 

WHEREAS,   I    have    Received    Information    and  charge 


35  8  jHISTORY  QF  'DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

against  one  James  Jones,  lately  come  from  Lebanon,  in  ye 
County  of  Wiadham,  in  ye  Collony  of  Connecticut,  and  Liveing 
in  Dutchess  County,  at  the  house  of  one  Ellexander  Griggs, 
Calls  himself  a  Weaver,  a  Lusty  Well  Sott  Likely  man  full 
faced  Brown  Complexioned  and  wares  a  Black  Wigg  Irishman  ; 
by  birth  by  the  brogue  on  his  Speach,  who  is  Charged  before 
me  to  be  a  Dangerous  person  and  is  suspected  to  have  Stolen 
a  silver  -spoon  or  the  bigest  part  of  a  Silver  Spoon ;  as  by  a 
warrant  Produced ;  and  the  complaint  of  Wiliiam  Derddy  of 
Lebanon  im  county  afores4  sometime  in  the  month  of  this  pres 
ent  November. 

Notwithstanding  Seavverall  Endeavours  for  apprehensions 
of  him  he  hath  not  as  yett  been  apprehended  but  hath  with 
drawn  himself  and  fled — Lately  from  Lebanon  in  ye  County 
of  Windham  In  ye  Colloney  of  Conecticut.  and  is  Come  to 
our  County  of  Dutchess  These  are  therefore  in  his  majesties 
name  to  command  you  and  every  of  You  to  make  diligent 
search  within  your  seaverall  Precincts  and  Districts  for  said 
James  Jones,  and  to  make  hue  and  Cry  after  him  from  Town 
to  Town,  and  from  County  to  County,  and  that  as  well  by 
horsemen  as  by  footmen,  according  to  Law,  and  if  you  shall 
find  the  said  James  Jones  that  then  you  do  carry  him  before 
some  one  of  his  Majesties  Justices  of  the  Peace  Within  the 
county  or  place  whare  he  shall  be  taken  to  be  Dealtt  withal  ac 
cording  to  Law.  Hereof  fail  not  at  yourperills.  Given  under 
my  hand  In  Dutchess  County  this  Seventeenth  Day  of  Novem 
ber,  In  the  fourth  year  of  our  Reaign,  and  In  the  year  of  our 
Lord  God  Everlasting  An0  1730. 

The  mark  of  X   Thomas  Sanders 

To  Franc  Cool  High   Constapel         Justice  of  the  Peace. 

In  Dutchess  County  pursue  after 

the  person  in  this  Hue  and  Cry. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  LaFayette's  visit : — General 
the  Marquis-de  Lafayette,  after  an  absence  of  thirty-nine 
years,  revisited  our  country  on  the  invitations  of  Congress,  as 
the  nation's  guest,  in  1824.  He  reached  New  York  on  the  i5th 
of  August,  in  the  packet  ship  Cadmus,  Capt.  Allyn,  with  his 
son  and  secretary.  The  Government  had  tendered  him  a 
United  States  frigate,  but  always  simple  and  unostentatious,  he 
preferred  to  come  as  an  ordinary  passenger  in  a  packet  ship. 

There  were  no  wires  fifty  years  ago  over  which  intelligence 
conld  pcss  with  lightning  speed;  but  the  v  sit  of  LaFayelte 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY. 


359 


was  expected,  and  the  pulses  and  hearts  of  the  people  were 
quickened  and  warmed  simultaneously,  through  some  mysteri 
ous  medium,  throughout  the  whole  Union.  Citizens  rushed 
from  neighboring  cities  and  villages  to  welcome  the  French 
nobleman,  who,  before  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  had 
devoted  himself  and  his  fortune  to  the  American  colonies  in 
their  unequal  conflict  with  the  mother  country  for  indepen 
dence  ;  and  who,  after  fighting  gallantly  by  the  side  of  Wash 
ington  through  the  Revolutionary  War,  returned  to  France 
with  the  only  reward  he  desired  or  valued — the  gratitude  of  a 
free  people. 

General  LaFayette  was  now  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  with 
some  physical  mnrmites,  but  intellectually  strong,  and  in  man 
ners  and  feeling  cheerful,  elastic  and  accomplished. 

The  General  embarked  at  i  o'clock,  a.  in.  At  half  past 
two  his  approach  was  annm^r^H  by  a  discharge  of  cannons 


City  Hall. 

f:om  the  bluff  just  below  the  landing  at  Poughkeepsie.  Large 
piles  of  seasoned  wood,  saturated  with  tar  and  turpentine,  were 
kindled  upon  that  bluff,  fed  by  hundreds  of  boys  who  had 
been  intrusted  with  that  duty,  and  which  were  kept  blazing 
high,  filling  the  atmosphere  with  lurid  flame  and  smoke  until 
daylight.  Soon  after  sunrise,  a  large  concourse  of  the  citizens 
of  Poughkeepsie,  with  a  military  escort,  arrived  at  the  wharf. 
The  boat  having  arrived,  Gen.  LaFayette,  accompanied  by 
Col.  Huger' of  South  Carolina,  (distinguished  for  his  attempt  to 


360  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

rescue  the  General  from  the  prison  of  Olmutz)  Gens.  Van 
Courtlan  1,  Fish  aril  Le.vis,  were  collected  to  a  barouche 
drawn  by  four  white  horses.  Gen.  Brush,  assisted  by  Col. 
Cunningham,  then  formed  the  procession  which  moved  at  the 
word  of  command  up  Main  Street  into  Academy,  and  down 
Cannon  into  Market  Street,  in  front  of  the  Forbus  Hotel, 
where  they  were  formed  into  a  hollow  square,  and  the  General 
was  received  by  the  Trustees  of  the  village. 

He  was  next  conducted  to  the  upper  piazza  of  the  Forbus 
House,  when  an  address  of  welcome  was  tendered  by  Col.  H. 
A.  Livingston,  to  which  LaFayette  feelingly  replied.  He  was 
then  shown  to  the  centre  hall,  where  the  ladies,  eager  to  offer 
their  tribute  of  respect,  were  presented ;  after  which  he 
returned  to  the  lower  piazza,  and  was  introduced  to  the  officers 
present.  He  then  walked  along  the  line  of  troops,  bowing  to 
them  as  he  passed,  and  receiving  their  respects.  Among  them 
was  an  old  soldier  bearing  the  marks  of  poverty  and  hardship, 
but  whom  the  General  recognized,  and  cordially  shook  by  the 
hand. 

At  the  conclusion  of  these  ceremonies  the  General  was 
escorted  to  the  Poughkeepsie  Hotel,  where  an  excellent  break 
fast  was  provided.  LaFayette  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
and  Major  Swartwout,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  95  years  of 
age,  was  placed  at  the  opposite  end,  the  seats  on  either  side 
being  occupied  by  the  most  prominent  persons  of  the  village. 
Over  the  folding  doors  were  the  words  "  Welcome  LaFayette," 
made  up  wholly  of  the  pink  blossoms  of  the  china-aster. 

Breakfast  over,  the  General  was  escorted  to  the  landing, 
and  amid  the  firing  of  cannons,  the  waving  of  handkerchiefs,, 
and  the  cheers  from  thousands,  the  steamer  proceeded  up  the 
river  to  the  then  beautiful  residence  of  Governor  Morgan 
Lewis,  where  the  party  landed,  proceeded  to  his  fine  old 
mansion,  and  partook  of  a  sumptuous  collation.  About  two 
o'clock  the  steamer  glided  through  the  placid  waters  until 
between  four  and  five  o'clock,  when  she  reached  Clermont, 
the  manor  house  of  Chancellor  Livingston,  of  revolutionary 


SOLDIERS  MEMORIAL  FOUNTAIN  AND  GROUNDS. 


^  - 


VIEW  IN  EASTMAN'S  PARK. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  361 

memory.  On  landing  the  General  was  received  by  a  large 
body  of  Free  Masons,  and  was  escorted  by  a  military  company 
from  Huison  to  the  beautiful  lawn  in  front  of  the  manor 
house,  where  the  General  was  warmly  welcomed  by  the  Master 
of  the  Lodge  in  an  appropriate  speech.  The  afternoon  was 
uncommonly  beautiful.  The  scene  and  its  associations  were 
exceedingly  impressive.  Dinner  was  served  in  a  green-house 
or  orangery,  which  formed  a  sort  of  balcony  to  the  Southern 
exposure  of  the  manor  house.  When  the  cloth  was  removed 
and  the  evening  came  on,  variegated  lamps  suspended  from  the 
orange  trees  were  lighted,  producing  a  beautiful  and  wonder 
fully  brilliant  effect.  Distinguished  men  from  Esopus,  Sauger- 
ties,  Upper  and  Lower  Red  Hock,  Catskill,  Hudson,  &c.,  had 
been  invited.  Among  these  were  Robert  and  James  Tillotsen, 
Walter  Patterson,  Peter  R.,  Edward  P.  and  "  Oakhill  John" 
Livingston,  Jacob  Haight,  Thomas  B.  Cook,  James  Powers; 
John  Suydam,  Judge  Willam  W.  Van  Ness,  Elisha  Williams, 
Jaob  Rutson  Van  Rensselaer,  Ambrose  L.  Jordan  and  Justis 
Me  Kinstry.  But  the  grand  event  of  the  occasion  was  the 
ball,  which  was  opened  by  General  LaFayetle,  leading  the 
graceful,  blind  widow  of  Gen.  Montgomery, — who  fell  in  the 
assault  at  Quebec,  1775 — amidst  the  wildest  enthusiasm  of  all 
present.  While  the  festivities  were  progressing  within,  the 
assembled  tenantry  who  were  to  the  "manor  born,"  were 
feasted  upon  the  lawn,  where  there  were  music  and  dancing. 
The  party  broke  up  and  returned  to  the  boat  about  3  A.  M. 
The  steamer  hauhd  out  into  the  river,  but  did  not  get  under 
way  till  sunrise. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  i2th  of  August,  1840,  a  terrific 
thunder  storm  arcse.  During  its  progress  the  air  was  filled 
with  sulphur,  and  ''so  incessant  was  the  lightning  that  Mam 
and  Market  Streets  seemed  to  be  one  vivid  sheet  of  fire." 
Major  Hatch  then  kept  the  Forbus  House.  He  was  sitting 
with  his  brc'v  ar  a  n  t  ihe  bell-knob,  in  con-pany  with  Gilbert 
V.  Wilkinson  and  Charles  Potter.  The  lightning  entered  a 
room  on  the  second  floor,  and  followed  the  bell-wire  down  to> 


362 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


the  knob  and  on  the  side  of  the  front  door,  striking  the  Major 
in  the  back,  killing  him  instantly,  and  rendering  his  compan 
ions  insensible.  A  ball  of  fire  entered  a  room  on  the  first 
floor  of  a  house  on  Cannon  Street,  where  it  separated,  one 
portion  passing  out  of  the  front  door,  and  the  other  going 
through  the  kitchen,  striking  senseless  a  girl  who  was  at  work 
there.  Several  other  buildings  about  the  town  were  damaged ; 
the  bells  all  rang  the  fire  alarm,  and  general  consternation  pre 
vailed  among  the  people. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1844,  the  State  Fair  was  held  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  on  the  grounds  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  then  village. 

The  hill  back  of  the  city  is  crowned  with  a  model  of  the 
Temple  of  Minerva.  From  this  point  the  city  appears  like  a 


Catholic  Church.  Cannon  Sircet. 

town  in  the  midst  of  a  forest ;  and  a  view  of  a  fine  farming 
country  of  a  radius  of  thirty  miles,  spreads  out  before  the  eye 
of  the  beholder.  The  city  is  profusely  shaded  with  multitudes 
of  maple,  elm,  and  acacia  trees.  The  building  here  mentioned 
was  formerly  the  Poughkeepsie  Collegiate  School.  This  insti 
tution  was  organized  in  1836,  under  the  charge  of  Charles 
Bartlett  and  others.  The  school  has  been  discontinued,  and  it 
is  now  used  as  a  hotel.  The  following  is  copied  from  Barber's 
Historical  Collections,  descriptive  of  this  once  flourishing  insti 
tution  of  learning : 

"Its  situation  is  truly  a  noble  one;    standing  on  an  emi- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  363 

nence  commanding  an  extensive  view  of  almost  every  variety 
of  feature  necessary  to  the  perfection  of  a  beautiful  landscape. 
From  the  colonnade,  which  entirely  surrounds  it,  the  eye  of  the 
spectator  can  compass  a  circuit  of  nearly  sixty  miles  ;  on  the 
south,  at  a  distance  of  twenty  miles,  the  Highlands  terminate 
the  view,  within  which  an  apparent  plain  stretches  to  their 
base,  covered  with  highly  cultivated  farms,  neat  mansions  and 
thriving  villages.  Similar  scenery  meets  the  eye  on  the  east, 
but  mure  undulating.  On  the  west  and  north,  the  Hudson 
rolls  in  its  pride  and  beauty,  dotted  with  the  sails  of  inland 
commerce  and  numerous  steamboats,  all  laden  with  products 
of  industry  and  busy  men.  In  the  dim  distance,  the  azure 
summits  of  the  Catskills,  reared  to  the  clouds,  stretch  away  to 
the  north,  a  distance  of  forty  miles,  where  the  far-famed 
*  Mountain  House'  is  distinctly  seen,  like  a  pearl  in  its  moun 
tain  crest,  at  an  elevation  of  three  thousand  feet  above  the 
river.  At  our  feet,  like  a  beautiful  panorama,  lies  the  city  of 
Poughkeepsie,  with  its  churches,  its  literary  institutions,  and 
various  improvements  in  view,  indicating  the  existence  of  a 
liberal  spirit  of  well-directed  enterprise." 

Two  miles  below  Poughkeepsie  is  Locust  Grove.  This  was 
the  seat  of  the  late  Prof.  S  F.  B.  Morse,  a  name  known 
throughout  every  civilized  nation  of  the  globe  as  the  inventor 
of  the  magnetic  telegraph.  Locust  Grove  was  his  summer 
residence,  where  he  enjoyed  telegraphic  communication  with 
every  part  of  the  United  States  and  the  British  Provinces. 
This  mansion  is  embosomed  among  the  trees,  on  an  eminence 
overlooking  the  river,  and  is  one  of  the  most  charming  retreats 
along  the  Hudson.  Nearly  opposite,  on  the  west  bank,  we  see 
Blue  Point.  It  is  said  that  under  the  shadow  of  these  hills 
was  the  favorite  anchorage  of  "  The  Storm  Ship."  The  legend 
connected  with  this  is  one  of  the  oldest,  and  therefore  the 
most  reliable.  The  story,  which  has  been  rendered  immortal 
by  the  pen  of  the  gifted  Irving,  is  somewhat  as  follows  :  Years 
ago,  when  New  York  was  a  village — a  mere  cluster  of  houses  on 
the  point  now  known  as  the  Battery ;  when  the  Bowery  was 


364  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

the  farm  of  Peter  Stuyvesant,  and  the  neighborhood  of  the 
old  Dutch  Church  on  Nassau  Street  was  considered  the- 

country,  say  one  hundred  and   fifty  years  ago the  whole1 

town  was  one  evening  put  into  great  commotion  by  the  fact, 
that  a  ship  was  coming  up  the  bay.  The  arrival  of  a  ship 
was,  in  those  days,  a  matter  of  great  importance,  and  everybody 
flocked  to  the  landing  place.  The  vessel  approached  the- 
Battery  within  hailing  distance,  and  then  sailing  both  against 
wind  and  tide,  turned  aside  and  passed  up  the  Hudson.  Week 
after  week  elapsed,  but  she  never  returned ;  and  whenever  a 
storm  came  down  the  Tappan  Zee.  it  is  said  she  could  be  seen 
careering  over  the  waste ;  and  in  the  midst  of  the  turmoil  you 
could  hear  the  Captain  giving  orders  in  good  Low  Dutch.  But 
when  the  weather  was  pleasant,  her  favorite  anchorage  was 
among  the  shadows  of  the  picturesque  hills  a  few  miles  above 
the  Highlands.  It  was  thought  by  some  to  be  Hendrick 
Hudson,  and  his  crew  of  the  "  Half  Moon,"  who  had  once  run 
aground  in  the  upper  part  of  the  river ;  and  people  living  in 
this  vicinity  still  insist  that  under  the  calm  harvest  moon  they 
can  see  her  under  the  bluff  of  Blue  Point,  all  in  deep  shadow, 
save  her  topsails  glittering  in  the  moonlight. 

The  following  is  from  the  Political  Barometer,  1809  ;  "The 
sloop  Edward,  John  Foster,  Jun.,  sails  from  the  Landing  of 
Geo.  B.  Everson  &  Co.,  for  the  accommodation  of  ladies  and' 
gentlemen  traveling  on  business  or  pleasure,  leaving  Pough- 
keepsie  on  Tuesdays  at  5  o'clock,  p.  m.,  and  New  York  on 
Fridays.  Her  berths  are  furnished  with  packing  bottoms,  new 
beds  and  beddings.  Passengers  will  be  let  ashore  if  requested,, 
at  any  place  between  Poughkeepsie  and  new  York." 

An  aged  citizen  says:  "I  well  remember  the  time  when* 
the  old  steamboats  used  to  ply  between  New  York  and  Albany 
and  that  when  they  hove  in  sight  of  the  point  coming  down,  a. 
boy,  with  an  immense  tin  horn,  would  go  up. in  the  town  and' 
blow  on  the  horn,  to  give  notice  that  the  boat  was  in  sight. 
Those  intending  to  take  passage  would  come  down  to  the  river,. 
without  much  necessity  of  hurrying  either,  as  the  old  crafts; 


"HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


365 


proceeded  very  slowly ;  and  there  was  plenty  of  time  for  the 
passengers  to  dress  and  walk  down  to  the  river  before  the  boat 
reached  the  dock.  In  those  primitive  days  the  passengers 
were  taken  to  the  steamboat  in  a  yawl,  as  the  former  did  not 
•make  landings  at  the  dock." 

Whale  dock  is  located  a  short  distance  north  of  Main 
Street  landing.  It  is  so  named  because  the  whale  ships,  that 
were  sent  out  from  Poughkeepsie  many  years  ago,  were  moored 
at  this  point.  This  business  was  conducted  largely  under  the 
•patronage  of  Nathaniel  P.  Talmadge.  Many  a  DUCHESS  County 
youth  signed  the  shipping  papers,  and  cured  his  love  for  the  sea 
iby  a  long  whaling  voyage.  The  first  ship  sent  out  came  back 


Jewish   Syuajjoyue. 

at  the  end  of  'three  years  with  a  large  stock  of  oil  and  whale 
bone,  but  the  subsequent  voyages  were  failures,  and  the  busi 
ness  was  finally  given  up. 

A  fearful  accident  occurred  at  the  drawbridge  spanning  the 
creek  at  New  Hamburgh,  on  the  6th  of  February,  187 i,  occa 
sioned  by  the  colliding  of  a  special  oil  train  going  south,  and 
the  Pacific  express  train  going  north.  The  axle  of  one  of  the 
oil  cars  broke  just  before  reaching  the  drawbridge,  which  threw 
the  car  from  the  track,  and  caused  it  to  project  sufficiently  to 
be  struck  by  the  locomotive  of  the  express  train.  The  latter, 
locomotive  and  all,  was  instantly  thrown  from  the  track  into 
the  water  on  the  east  side  of  the  bridge.  Several  of  the  oil 


366  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

cars  were  crushed,  and  the  wreck  of  both  trains  set  on  fire  by 
the  flames  communicated  to  the  oil  by  the  furnace  of  the  loco 
motive.  Three  sleeping  cars  were  attached  to  the  express  train. 
In  the  first  of  these,  the  passengers  were  so  injured  and 
stunned  by  the  collision,  that  they  were  unable  to  leave  the  car 
before  it  was  enveloped  in  flames,  and  all  perished.  The  pas 
sengers  in  the  other  cars  were  comparatively  uninjured,  and 
escaped  before  the  flames  reached  them.  Almost  immediately 
the  bridge  was  likewise  all  ablaze,  and  in  a  short  time  it  fell 
with  a  crash,  carrying  with  it  the  burning  cars,  and  burying  in 
the  ice  and  water  the  half  consumed  bodies  of  the  occupants 
of  the  first  sleeping  car.  Between  thirty  and  forty  persons 
were  believed  to  have  perished. 

The  eminences  about  New  Hamburgh  are  covered  with 
Arbor  Vitae.*  Loudon,  the  English  naturalist,  says  the  finest 
specimens  in  the  world  of  this  species  of  tree  are  to  be  found 
here.  The  most  beautiful  are  from  six  to  ten  feet  in  hight. 
They  are  of  all  sizes  and  forms ; — from  the  tall  tree  that 
shows  its  first  stem  several  feet  from  the  ground,  to  the  perfect 
cone  that  seems  to  rest  on  the  earth. 

Many  of  the  readers  of  this  volume  will  doubtless 
remember  that  old  river  institution,  the  "horse  ferryboat." 
The  annexed  is  a  representation  of 
one  of  the  last  in  use  on  the  Hud 
son.  In  1860  there  were  only  two 
of  the  kind — one  at  Milton  Ferry, 
iiorse  Ferry  Boat.  shown  in  the  cut,  and  the  other  at 

Coxsackie.  Steam  has  superseded  the  horse  as  a  motive 
power,  and  the  horse  ferry  boat  exists  only  in  the  memories  of 
the  past. 

To  the  eastward  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie  are  the  sites 
of  two  race  courses,  now  obliterated.  One  of  these  tracks 
was  in  existence  but  a  few  years  ago ;  the  other  dates  back  to 
earlier  times,  when  running  matches  were  more  in  vogue  than 
at  present.  Then  the  people  came  from  all  parts  of  the 

*  In  New  England,  it  is  frequently  called  Hacktruttuck,  Lt  bears  yellow  cones  about 
five  lines  in 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  367 

country,  remaining  three  or  four  days.  It  is  said  it  was  not 
unusual  for  a  large  amount  of  money  to  change  hands  during 
the  races. 

Vassar  College,  established  for  the  higher  education  of 
young  women,  enjoys  the  distinguishing  feature  of  being  the 
first  of  the  kind  ever  founded.  Its  history  is  thus  briefly  given 
by  the  historian,  Losing :  Its  Board  of  Directors  was  organ 
ized  in  February,  1861,  and  it  was  opened  in  September,  1865, 
with  350  students.  It  possesses  an  Art-Gallery,  Cabinet  and 
Museum,  not  inferior  to  those  of  any  college  in  our  country, 
and  has  a  Library  of  almost  10,000  volumes.  Its  founder, 
Matthew  Vassar,  lived  here  from  his  early  boyhood  until  his 
death.  He  began  his  business  life  in  Poughkeepsie  66  years 
ago,  [1876]  as  a  brewer  of  ale,  i  barrel  at  a  time,  which  he  car 
ried  around  the  streets  with  his  own  hands,  and  sold  to  cus 
tomers.  When  by  honesty,  industry  and  thrift  he  had  accumu 
lated  a  large  fortune  in  his  declining  years,  he  was  induced  by 
his  niece,  Miss  Lydia  Booth,  who  was  at  the  head  of  a  semi 
nary  for  young  women  in  Poughkeepsie,  to  contemplate  the 
founding  of  an  institution  for  the  higher  education  of  women. 
This  germ  expanded  and  yielded  noble  fruit.  He  gave  a  large 
portion  of  his  fortune  (he  was  a  childless  mm)  to  the  found 
ing  of  this  college,  and  lived  to  see  it  start  upon  a  career  of 
great  prosperity  and  usefulness.  Matthew  Vassar,  by  an  ex 
penditure  of  $800,000,  gave  to  Poughkeepsie  the  immortal 
honor  of  having  within  its  borders,  the  first  college  proper  ever 
established  for  the  education  of  young  women. 

The  same  writer  says  of  Eastman's  Business  College  : — The 
Eastman  National  Business  College  at  Poughkeepsie,  New 
York,  is  not  only  the  pioneer  among  these  Institutions,  in 
teaching  actual  business,  but  is  a  model.  Dr.  Eastman  first 
opened  a  commercial  school  at  Oswego,  New  York,  in  1855. 
Previous  to  that  time  only  penmanship,  arithmetic  and  the 
theory  of  book-keeping  were  taught  in  commercial  schools.  He 
introduced  with  theory,  actual  business  operations,  teaching 
the  students  practical  knowledge  in  buying  and  selling  accord- 


368  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

ing  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  trade.  In  the  College  at 
Poughkeepsie,  which  was  founded  in  1858,  the  student  not 
only  learns  the  theory  of  business  of  every  kind,  but  is  actually 
engaged  in  the  practical  operations  of  a  merchant,  a  banker,  a 
trader,  a-.i  accountant,  and  a  book-keeper,  using  real  merchan- 
dise,  and  specie,  bank  notes  and  fractional  currency,  in  as 
legitimate  a  way  as  if  he  were  a  member  of  a  mercantile  or 
fo  isiness  house.  Each  day's  business  is  based  upon  quotations 
in  the  New  York  market,  whether  it  be  stocks,  merchandise  or 
produce.  Dr.  Eastman  opened  his  College  in  Poughkeepsie, 
in  a  small  room  with  only  three  students.  They  numbered 
sixteen  the  second  week,  and  at  the  end  of  three  years  they 
had  expanded  to  500;  and  in  1863,  to  1,200.  The  next  year 
t'ie  College  register,  at  one  time,  showed  a  regular  daily  atten- 
daice  of  over  1,700  students.  The  rules  and  regulations  of 
thi  Eist.nn  Business  College  are  calculated  to  insure  order, 
and  a  high  moral  tone.  The  students  are  generally  earnest 
young  men  seeking  practical  business  knowledge.  Its  gradu 
ates,  n^.v  nunbering  ab3.it  23,030,  fill  many  places  of  trust  in 
our  laud,  and  many  others  have  become  leaders  in  com.nercial 
circles. 

In  August  of  1853,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
of  the  City  of  Poughkeepsie  was  founded,  at  a  meeting  held 
in  the  First  Methodist  Church.  That  meeting  was  addressed 
by  Rev.  Dr.  Howard  Crosby,  the  pioneer  in  the  organization 
of  similar  institutions  in  this  country.  The  Association  was  or 
ganized  by  the  appointment  of  John  H.  Mathews  as  President, 
J.  I.  Platt  as  Secretary,  and  W.  B.  Frissell,  as  Treasurer.  A 
reading  room  was  furnished,  the  nucleus  of  a  library  was  formed ; 
stated  prayer  meetings  were  established,  and  Committees  were 
appointed  to  do  active  Christian  work.  By  persevering  effort 
and  the  generosity  of  the  citizens  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  other 
'liberal  minded  people,  the  spacious  building  occupied  by  the 
association  was  purchased,  and  the  usefulness  of  the  institu 
tion  greatly  extended. 

Space  would  fail  were  we  to  mention,  at  length,  the  "  Home 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  369 

for  the  Friendless,"  "Old  Ladies'  Home,"  "St.  Barnabas 
Hospital,"  "  House  of  Industry,"  and  other  kindred  institu 
tions,  with  which  are  closely  associated  the  prosperity  and 
happiness  of  the  people. 

The  Poughkeepsie  Female  Academy  was  founded  in  1836, 
being  incorporated  under  the  Regents  of  New  York.  The 
Principal,  Rev.  D.  G.  Wright,  A.  M.,  a  gentleman  of  superior 
talents,  and  of  ripe  scholarship,  has  held  his  present  position 
during  the  past  seventeen  years. 

The  Duchess  County  Academy  building  was  erected  in 
1836,  at  a  cost  of  $14,000.  This  institution  was  first  organ 
ized  in  Fishkill,  and  afterwards  removed  to  Cannon  Street, 
Poughkeepsie.  In  the  year  above  mentioned  it  was  again 
removed  to  its  present  location,  on  Hamilton  Street,  where  it 
is  now  used  as  The  Old  Ladies'  Home. 

The  Hudson  River  State  Hospital  is  one  of  the  finest  pub 
lic  institutions  in  the  country,  standing  on  the  Highlands,  two 
miles  north  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie,  commanding  a  fine 
view  of  the  Hudson  River  for  miles.  The  hospital  was  estab 
lished  by  act  of  the  State  Legislature  passed  in  1866,  and  was 
erected  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Cleaveland,  the 
present  able  and  skillful  Superintendent.  It  has  accommoda 
tions  for  600  patients,  300  of  each  sex;  and  when  the  additions 
now  being  erected  under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Post  are  com 
pleted,  it  will  have  a  capacity  for  about  1,000  patients. 

The  manufacture  of  mowing  and  reaping  machines  is 
among  the  most  important  of  American  industries.  Of  these 
implements,  none  has  gained  a  more  deserved  popularity  than 
the  Buckeye  Mower  and  Reaper — which  may  be  termed  a 
DUCHESS  County  institution — manufactured  by  Adriance,  Platt 
&  Co.*  These  machines  were  first  brought  out  in  1857,  when 
twenty-five  were  made.  The  manufacture  and  sale  has  risen 


*  The  writer  noticed  a  supi.rb  specimen  of  one  of  these  machines  on  exhibition  at 
the  Centennial.  The  body  was  painted  vermilion,  with  a  tinge  of  carmine,  with  gold  and 
blue  striping.  The  driving  wheels  were  of  pearl  white,  also  with  gold  and  blue  striping. 
3Iuch  of  the  iron  work  was  nickel  plated.  The  rakes  and  arms  were  of  black  walnut  and 
ash,  respectively. 


370  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

to  30,000  in  a  single  year.  The  manufactory  stands  on  a  bole! 
bluff  of  the  Hudson,  and  comprises  a  handsome  group  of 
structures. 

But  a  description  of  Poughkeepsie  would  be  incomplete 
without  a  mention  of  Eastman's  Park  ;  which,  though  pur 
chased  and  maintained  by  the  private  purse  of  Hon.  H.  G. 
Eastman,  is  as  free  to  the  public  as  though  owned  by  the  city 
itself.  The  grounds  are  the  admiration  of  all  who  see  them. 
The  wall  surrounding  them  is  of  superior  workmanship,  of  cut 
marble  and  blue  stone.  The  entrances  are  ot  solid  white 
marble  piers.  It  has  been  appropriately  styled  the  "Central 
Park"  of  the  city  of  Poughkeepsie ;  and  here  the  Fourth  of 
July  celebrations,  Summer  evening  concerts  and  other  public 
entertainments  are  held  without  any  charge  for  the  grounds. 
Inside  of  the  enclosure  are  fountains  and  ponds,  a  music  park, 
ball  ground,  skating  park,  deer  park,  and  an  extensive  flower 
garden.  The  Soldiers'  Fountain,  at  the  junction  of  South 
Avenue  and  Montgomery  Street,  and  opposite  the  Park,  is 
among  the  largest  and  most  artistic  fountains  in  the  country. 
It  is  a  massive  iron  structure,  some  forty  feet  in  height,  and  of 
very  graceful  proportions.  Eight  cannon  project  from  the  large 
basin,  from  the  mouth  of  which  are  thrown  jets  of  water  made 
to  resemble  the  smoke  and  blaze  of  a  discharged  field  piece. 
There  are  some  forty  water  jets  in  all  in  connection  with  the 
fountain,  and  the  effect  is  very  fine.  Professor  Eastman  was 
the  originator  of  this  public  work ;  and  after  a  failure  to  raise 
the  means  to  construct  it  by  general  subscriptions  and  enter 
tainments,  he  completed  it  at  his  own  expense.* 

The  Poughkeepsie  Rural  Cemetery  comprises  about  54 
acres,  situated  between  the  old  post  road  and  the  river,  about 
one  mile  below  the  city.  This  is  as  picturesque  and  lovely  a 
spot  as  could  be  selected  for  the  resting  place  of  a  city's  dead. 
Although  but  recently  laid  out,  it  already  contains  many  fine 
monuments. 


*  We  are  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  Hon.  H.  G.  Eastman,  and  Iiis  gentlemanly 
Secretary,  Mr.  Ezra  White,  for  the  elegant  plates  illustrating  the  1'ark  and  Fountain  -which 
embellish  this  volume. 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


371 


The  Collingwood  Opera  House  is  one  of  the  finest  music 
halls  in  the  country.  It  is  excellently  fitted  and  appointed, 
and  has  a  seating  capacity  for  over  2,000  persons.  The  new 
Public  Library  building  is  a  large  and  elegant  structure.  The 
library  itself  comprises  many  choice  volumes  and  periodicals, 
which  add  greatly  to  the  interests  of  the  city. 

The  Poughkeepsie  Bridge,  work  on  which  has  been  com 
menced,  and  which  is  destined  to  be  another  distinguishing 
feature  of  the  city,  will,  when  completed,  constitute  one  of  the 
grandest  structures  in  the  country.  Its  dimensions  are  given 
as  follows :  The  main  river  bridge  will  be  composed  of  five 
spans,  of  525  feet  each.  These  are  to  have  each  two  trusses,. 
25  feet  from  centre  to  centre,  constructed  of  iron  and  steel. 
The  base  of  the  rails,  which  will  be  of  steel,  will  be  193  feet 
above  high  tide,  and  the  top  of  the  piers  135  feet.  The  total 
length  of  the  bridge  and  its  approaches  will  be  4,500  feet.  An 
excellent  view  of  the  contemplated  structure  is  elsewhere  given 
in  this  volume. 


Collingwood  Opera  House. 


RED  HOOK. 


POPULATION,    4,315. SQUARE  ACRES,   22,148, 


ED  ROOK  was  formed  from  Rhinebeck,  June  2nd, 
1812.  It  was  called  by  the  Dutch  Roode  Hoeck.  Tra 
dition  ascribes  the  name  to  a  marsh  near  Tivoli,  which, 
when  first  seen,  was  covered  with  ripe  cranberries.  Its 
surface  is  a  rolling  upland,  terminating  on  the  Hudson  in  a 
series  of  bluffs  100  to  150  feet  high.  The  east  part  is  hilly. 
Prospect  Hill  is  a  prominent  peak  a  little  south  of  Upper  Red 
Hook  village.  The  streams  are  the  Saw  Kil  and  the  White 
Clay  Kil.  The  valleys  of  the  streams  are  broad,  and  their 
banks  low.  Long  Pond,  in  the  east  part,  forms  the  source  of 
the  Saw  Kil.  The  soil  along  the  river  is  a  clay  loam,  and  in 
the  remaining  parts  a  sandy,  gravelly,  or  slaty  loam. 

The  first  settlements  were  made  between  1713  and  1727, 
by  the  Dutch.  Among  the  early  settlers  were  families  named 
Haeners,  Shufeldt,  Zippertie,  Hagadorn,  Wiederwax,  Trauvs, 
Staats,  Mellbau,  Bermar,  Woldorf,  Near,  Proseus,  and  others, 
mostly  from  Germany.  They  first  settled  near  Barrytown  and 
Tivoli.  The  first  marriage  on  record  is  that  of  Adam  Shaffer 

372 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  373 

and  Maria  Schoett,  July  31,  1746.     The  first  baptism   on  the 
church  record  is  that  of  Catherine  Woldorf,  April  23,  1734. 

In  the  Journal  of  the  Second  Esopus  War  (1663),  written 
by  Capt.  Martin  Kreiger,  in  command  of  the  military  forces  at 
Wiltwyck  (Kingston),  occurs  the  following  :  "  In  the  after 
noon,  July  8th,  we  examined  the  oldest  Indian  as  to  whether 
he  was  not  acquainted  with  same  Esopus  Indians,  and  whether 
he  would  not  lead  us  to  them — gave  him  fair  words  and  prom 
ised  him  a  present ;  for  the  Dutch  a.t  Esopus  had  told  us  that 
some  Indians  lived  about  two  miles  from  there,  wherefore  we 
were  resolved  that  same  evening  to  go  in  search  of  them  with 
50  men.  But  this  Indian  said  to  them — '  Go  not  there,  for 
the  Indians  have  gone  hence  and  dwell  now  back  of  Magdalen 
Island,*  in  the  rear  of  a  Cripple  bush  on  the  east  side  of  Fort 
Orange  [Hudson]  River,  and  number  8  men,  9  women  and  1 1 
children ;  and  he  even  offered  to  guide  us  thither  if  we  had  a 
boat  to  put  us  over  the  river.  I  therefore  sent  Sergeant  Chris- 
tiaen  Niesen  and  Jan  Peersen,  each  with  16  men,  to  look  up  a 
boat.  Called  a  Council  of  War,  and  it  was  resolved  unani 
mously  to  set  out  in  the  evening  with  20  soldiers  and  12  Indi 
ans  under  Christiaen  Niesen  and  Peiter  Wolfertsen  in  order  to 
visit  the  east  shore  near  Magdalen  Island,  to  see  if  they  could 
not  surprise  the  Esopus  Indians  who  were  lying  there  ;  they 
took  the  old  Indian  along  as  a  guide,  who  well  knew  where 
they  lay.  On  the  i2th,  Peiter  Wolfertsen  and  Sergeant  Niesen 
returned  with  the  troops,  bringing  with  them  one  squaw  and 
three  children  whom  they  had  captured  ;  they  killed  five  armed 
Indians  and  a  woman  ;  the  Esopus  Captain  was  among  the 
slain ;  they  cut  off  his  hand  which  they  brought  hither.  Had 
not  the  Indian  led  them  astray  and  missed  the  houses,  they 
would  have  surprised  all  the  Indians  who  were  there  to  the 
number  of  28,  with  women  and  children.  For  through  the 
mistake  of  the  Indian,  our  people  first  came  about  mid-day 
where  they  found  the  Indians  posted  and  in  arms.  They  im- 


*  Magdalen  Island  is  situated  between  Tivoli  and  Barrytown  Landings.     These  In 
dians  must  therefore  have  been  in  the  town  of  Keel  Hook. 


374  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

-mediately  fell  on  the  latter  and  routed  and  pursued  them. 
Meanwhile  the  huts  were  plundered  wherein  they  found  19 
jblankets,  9  kettles,  a  lot  of  sewan  (wampum)  and  4  muskets 
^belonging  to  the  Indians  who  were  killed.  They  returned  on 
.board  with  the  plunder  and  four  prisoners,  and  arrived  safe 
-except  one  of  our  soldiers  who  was  bit  in  the  leg  by  a  rattle 
snake." —  C?  Callaghan. 

A  steamboat  landing  and  railroad  station  in  the  northwest 
part  is  known  as  Tivoli — a  name  which  carries  us  back  to  the 
palmy  days  of  the  City  of  Seven  Hills,  and  one  of  the  famous 
watering  places  in  the  time  of  Horace.  The  derivation  of  its 
title  is  thus  given  :  "  Many  years  ago  a  French  emigrant  from 
'Tivoli  in  Italy  came  to  America  and  settled  on  what  is  now 
known  as  the  old  Elmendorf  place  and  called  it  Tivoli.  He 
.was  known  as  Abbe  Sequard,  but  whether  he  kept  up  his 
<Romish  doctrines  is  uncertain.  After  his  death  the  farm 
passed  into  the  hands  of  a  family  by  the  name  of  Elmendorf, 
and  when  the  first  horse  ferry-boat  was  put  on  between  Sauger- 
ties  and  Tivoli,  Mrs.  Elmendorf  gave  Cutwater,  the  owner  of 
it,  a  set  of  American  colors  if  in  return  he  would  call  the 
name  of  the  place  after  her  estate." 

A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Evening  Mail  thus 
writes  : — "  A  few  days  ago  I  happened  to  be  detained  at  Tivoli, 
and  wandering  up  into  the  woods  north  of  the  depot  I  came 
upon  a  dwelling  which  well  repaid  me  for  my  walk.  It  was  as 
-queer  a  conglomerate  of  styles  as  can  well  be  imagined,  some 
forty  paces  long,  cross-shaped,  recalling  European  mansions 
-commenced  in  one  age,  continued  in  another,  and  completed 
a  century  or  centuries  afterwards.  The  main  building  is  in 
Italian  style,  the  north  wing  simple  or  rude  as  may  be,  the 
southern  somewhat  more  tastily  finished,  while  in  the  rear,  over 
the  roadway  soars  a  tower,  reminding  the  visitor  of  the  keep  of 
an  early-modern  manor-house. 

"  This  tower,  some  sixty  or  seventy  feet  high,  is  a  square, 
with  one  corner  cut  off,  with  heavy  iron  balconies,  richly 
carved  keystones  with  deeply  cut  armorial  bearings,  marble 


HISTORY  OF  DUGHESS  COUNTY.  375 

and  stone  sculptures  set  in  without  regard  to  artistic  design,  as 
if  dictated  by  caprice.  And  queerest  of  all,  in  a  niche,  aloft, 
sat  a  huge  Aztec  idol,  such  as  is  only  seen  in  museums. 

"  A  short  distance  north  of  the  house  arc  extensive  stables 
and  farm  buildings,  overlooking  the  river,  with  huge  gate 
posts,  crowned  with  huge  eagles  or  vultures.  The  roads  were 
wonderful  for  such  broken  grounds,  and  seemed  to  twist  off 
in  every  direction  up  steep  hills  and  through  woods  of  grand 
trees  ;  within  the  same  area  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to 
find  more  natural  beauties  almost  altogether  undeveloped  by 
art.  Towards  the  southwest,  adjoining  the  grass  land,  niched 
in  this  country  seat,  stood  a  very  attractive  gothic  church 
amid  trees,  with  a  row  of  massive  funeral  vaults  as  unlike  the 
usual  appendage  of  American  country  churches  as  the  mansion 
which  first  attracted  my  attention.  On  my  return  I  stumbled 
into  a  cemetery  devoted  to  dogs  and  parrots ;  and  finally 
made  my  way  through  the  noble  woods,  almost  as  shady  in  the 
bright  autumn  sun  as  are  many  forests  in  summer,  so  numer 
ous  were  the  lofty  evergreens.  From  the  front  of  the  house,  at 
a  point  by  the  way,  there  is  a  river  view,  backed  by  the 
Catskills,  that  is  unexceeded  in  extent  and  beauty." 

Tivoli  was  formerly  called  Upper  Red  Hook  Landing,  and 
Barrytown  was  known  as  Lower  Red  Hook  Landing.  It  is 
said,  when  Jackson  was  President,  and  this  village  wanted  a 
post-office,  that  he  would  not  consent  to  its  bearing  the 
name  of  Barrytown,  from  personal  dislike  to  General  Barry, 
and  suggested  another  name.  But  the  people  were  loyal  to 
their  old  friend,  and  went  without  a  post-office  until  a  new 
administration.  This  we  give,  without  vouching  for  the  truth 
of  it. 

Cedar  Hill,  Upper  and  Lower  Red  Hook,  (the  latter 
formerly  called  Hardscrabble)  and  Madalin  are  small  villages. 
Madalin  is  adjacent  to  Tivoli,  and  the  two  form  one  continu 
ous  village.  The  former  was  originally  known  as  Myersville, 
alter  a  family  of  the  name  of  Myers ;  then  it  was  changed  to 
Mechanicsville,  and  last  of  all  to  Madalin.  A  man  named 


376  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Ten  Broeck  Myers  lived  here  and  built  a  large  house  about  the 
the  year  1825.  It  is  said  he  at  one  time  kept  the  Poughkeep- 
sie  Hotel. 

Back  of  Tivoli  is  an  ancient  burial  place,  said  to  be  the 
grounds  in  which  the  slaves  and  colored  people  of  the  vicinity 
were  buried.  Near  a  cluster  of  wild  plums  in  this  enclosure 
are  several  tomb  stones,  which  have  stood  so  long  that  they 
have  become  soft  and  crumbly  with  age. 

At  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  a  store  house  filled  with 
wheat  stood  on  the  river  bank,  north  of  Barrytown.  When 
the  foundation  was  being  laid  for  an  ice  house  on  the  same 
site  a  few  years  ago,  a  large  quantity  of  the  charred  wheat  was- 
found  upon  the  spot,  still  in  a  perfect  state  of  preservation. 
The  residents  about  the  vicinity  gathered  up  quite  a  large 
amount,  which  they  show  to  visitors  as  a  relic  of  the  struggle 
of  one  hundred  years  ago.  Tradition  says  that  Fulton's  steam 
boat,  the  "  Clermont,"  put  in  for  repairs  at  De  Kovens  Cove, 
or  Bay,  still  further  to  the  northward. 

Opposite  Tivoli,  in  Ulster  County,  is  the  pleasant  village 
of  Saugerties,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Esopus  Creek.  Near 
this  village  was  the  West  Camp  of  the  Palatinates,*  East 
Camp  being  what  is  now  Germantown  in  Columbia  County. 

From  the  lower  border  of  Columbia  County  opposite  Cats- 
kill  village,  to  Hyde  Park  a  distance  of  thirty  miles,  the  east 
bank  of  the  Hudson  is  distinguished  for  old  and  elegant 
country  seats,  most  of  them  owned  and  occupied  by  the 
descendants  of  wealthy  proprietors  who  flourished  in  the  last 
century.  Most  of  these  are  connected  by  blood  and  marriage 
with  Robert  Livingston.  Of  this  gentleman  Lossing  says  : 
In  1683,  Robert  Livingston,  a  landless  but  shrewd  adventurer 
from  Scotland,  married  the  young  widow  Alida  Schuyler, 
daughter  of  Patroon  Nicholas  Van  Rensselaer.  With  her 

*  The  Upper  Palatinate  was  a  small  state  on  the  Khine.  In  1674,  almost  the  whole 
of  It  was  rendered  desolate  by  the  troops  of  L<-uis  XIV.,  the  Elector  Palatine  having  de 
serted  the  cause  of  France,  thereby  incurring1  the  hatred  of  that  country.  Two  cities  and 
twenty-five  villages  were  reduced  to  ashes,  and  the  innocent  inhabitants  left  to  perish  by 
cold  and  hunger.  A  part  of  these  people  were  sent  to  America  by  the  Enplish  povernment, 
and  six  thousand  acres  of  land,  on  the  east  side  of  the  Hudson  [now  Germantown]  divided. 
among  them.  It  was  expected  there  would  be  some  return  to  the  Government  for  these. 
favors  in  the  productions  of  naval  stores,  hemp,  tar,  pitch,  and  pine  lumber. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  377 

money  he  purchased  an  immense  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians 
on  the  eastern  borders  of  the  Hudson  River,  which  in  1710, 
was  created  a  Manor,  embracing  160,000  acres.  He  lived  at 
Albany,  and  was  Secretary  of  the  Commission  of  Indian  affairs 
for  a  long  time. 

When  Vaughan  passed  up  the  Hudson  in  1777,  some  of  his 
command  crossed  over  into  Clermont,  Columbia  County, 
where  they  burned  the  house  just  built  by  Robert.  R.  Livings 
ton,  (more  generally  known  as  Chancellor  Livingston)  and 
also  the  old  one  where  he  was  born,  and  where  his  widowed 
mother,  relict  of  Robert  Livingston,  resided,  and  then  retreated 
to  New  York.  The  Chancellor  had  a  library  of  4000  volumes, 
of  the  choicest  selections,  and  at  that  time  was  the  most 
complete  one  in  the  country.  He  introduced  the  merino 
breed  of  sheep  into  this  country.  We  append  a  copy  of  a 
letter,  written  by  Mrs.  Livingston  to  the  Judge,  her  husband, 
giving  the  details  of  a  long  journey  from  New  York  to  Cler 
mont,  through  the  almost  unbroken  wilderness : 

CLERMONT,  July  i2th,  1766. 

With  joy  I  embrace  this  opportunity  of  conversing  with 
you,  by  the  Manor  Sloop,  since  it  is  the  only  way  now  left  of 
conveying  our  sentiments  to  each  other.  We  set  out  from  New 
York  in  so  great  a  hurry  that  I  could  not  give  myself  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  or  the  pain  of  parting  with  you.  We  had  a 
very  pleasant  ride  the  first  day,  which  brought  us  to  Croton. 
Here  we  were  detained  until  the  next  day  by  rain,  but  it  is 
impossible  to  describe  this  day's  journey  ;  the  crags,  precipices, 
and  mountains  that  we  had  a  view  of,  together  with  the 
excessive  badness  of  the  roads,  that  were  laid  bare  by  streams 
of  water  taking  their  course  through  the  midst,  which  made  it 
very  disagreeable  to  me.  We  could  go  no  further  that  day 
than  Warren's,  who  lives  in  the  midst  of  the  Highlands,  but 
the  next  day  made  up  for  the  fatigue  of  this.  We  had  a  most 
charming  journey  the  remaining  part  of  the  way.  We  break 
fasted  at  Van  Wyck's,  who  lives  at  Fishkill ;  dined  at  Pough- 
keepsie,  slept  at  Rhinebeck,  where  we  arrived  at  6  o'clock. 
The  next  morning,  which  was  Sunday,  we  came  home  at  9 
o'clock,  and  found  the  family  all  in  good  health  and  spirits. 
****** 

Near  Tivoli  is  an  elegant  country  seat  built  by  one  of  the 


37 8  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Livingston  family,  who  occupied  it  when  the  British  burned 
old  Clermont,  and  also  the  residence  of  Chancellor  Livingston, 
already  alluded  to.  The  red-coats  landed  in  De  Kovens  Cove, 
just  below,  and  came  up  with  destructive  intent,  supposing 
this  to  be  the  residence  of  the  arch  offender.  The  proprietor, 
a  good-humored,  hospitable  man,  soon  convinced  them  of 
their  error,  supplied  them  bountifully  with  wine  and  other 
refreshments,  and  made  them  so  cheery,  that  had  he  been  the 
"  rebel"  himself,  they  must  have  spared  his  property. 

Five  miles  below  Tivoli  is  Annandale,  country  seat  of 
John  Bard,  Esq.  The  approach  from  the  north  is  along  a 
picturesque  road,  bordered  by  the  grounds  of  numerous 
beautiful  villas.  The  Church  of  Holy  Innocents,  built  in 
Anglo-gothic  style,  standing  on  the  verge  of  the  open  park, 
was  erected  by  the  proprietor  of  Annandale  for  the  people  of 
the  neigborhood  as  a  free  church. 

Adjoining  Annandale  on  the  south  is  Montgomery  Place. 
This  elegant  mansion  was  built  by  the  widow  of  Gen.  Richard 
Montgomery,  being  also  a  sister  of  the  Chancellor.  With 
ample  means  and  good  taste  at  command,  she  built  this  resi 
dence,  and  there  spent  fifty  years  of  widowhood,  childless  but 
cheerful,  loved  and  respected  by  all.  The  mansion,  and  four 
hundred  acres  of  land,  passed  at  her  death  into  the  hands  of 
her  brother  Edward,  and  is  now  occupied  by  a  family  by  the 
name  of  Hunt. 

Downing  thus  describes  this  retreat :  "  There  are  few  per 
sons  among  the  traveling  class  who  know  the  beauty  of  the 
finest  American  country  seat,  Montgomery  Place.  It  is  one  of 
the  superb  old  seats  belonging  to  the  Livingston  family. 
Whether  the  *charm  lies  in  the  deep  and  mysterious  wood,  full 
of  the  echo  of  water  sprites,  or  whether  it  grows  out  of  a  pro 
found  feeling  of  completeness  and  perfection  in  foregrounds  of 
old  trees,  and  distance  of  calm  serene  mountains,  we  have 
not  been  able  to  divine ;  but  certain  it  is  that  there  is  a  spell 
in  the  very  air,  which  is  fatal  to  the  energies  of  a  great  specu 
lation.  It  is  not,  we  are  sure,  the  spot  for  a  man  to  plan  cam- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  379 

paigns  of  conquest,  and  we  doubt  even  whether  the  scholar, 
whose  ambition  it  is  to  scorn  delight  and  live  laborious  days, 
would  not  find  something  in  the  air  of  this  demesne  so  sooth 
ing  as  to  dampen  the  fire  of  his  great  purposes.  There  is  not 
wanting  something  of  the  charm  of  historic  association  here. 
It  derives  its  name  from  Gen'l  Richard  Montgomery,  the  hero 
•of  Quebec.  Here  Mrs.  Montgomery  resided  until  her  death, 
when  she  bequeathed  it  to  her  brother,  Edward  Livingston,  the 
distinguished  diplomatist  and  jurist.  The  age  of  Montgomery 
Place  hightens  its  interest.  Its  richness  of  foliage,  both  in 
natural  and  planted  trees,  is  one  of  its  marked  features;  the 
fine  specimens  of  hemlock,  lime,  ash  and  fir,  forming  the  finest 
possible  accessories  to  a  noted  and  spacious  manor." 

Mrs.  Montgomery  writes  to  Mrs.  Warren,  the  widow  of 
Gen'l  Joseph  Warren,  who  fell  at  Bunker  Hill : 

NOVEMBER  20,  1780. 

I  have  been  interrupted  by  another  alarm  of  the  enemy's 
being  in  full  march  for  Saratoga,  and  the  poor  harassed  militia 
have  again  been  called  upon.  My  impatient  spirit  pants  for 
peace ;  when  shall  the  unfortunate  individual  have  the  satis 
faction  of  weeping  alone  for  his  own  particular  losses.  In  this 
luckless  state,  woes  follow  woes,  every  moment  is  big  with 
something  fatal ;  we  hold  our  lives  in  the  most  precarious  tenure. 
Had  Arnold's  plan  taken  place,  we  could  not  have  escaped 
from  a  fate  dreadful  in  thought,  for  these  polished  Britons  have 
proved  themselves  fertile  in  inventions  to  procrastinate  misery. 

In  1818,  a  request  in  behalf  of  Mrs.  Montgomery  was  made 
to  Sir  John  Sherbrook,  Governor-in-Chief  of  Canada,  to  allow 
the  remains  of  General  Richard  Montgomery  to  be  disinterred, 
and  removed  to  New  York.  The  request  was  acceded  to. 
James  Thompson,  of  Quebec,  one  of  the  engineers  at  the  time 
of  the  storming  of  that  place,  and  who  helped  bury  the 
General,  assisted  at  the  disinterment,  and  made  affidavit  of  the 
identity  of  the  body.  Gov.  De  Witt  Clinton,  in  conformity 
to  an  act  of  Legislature  of  New  York,  passed  at  its  previous 
session,  touching  the  removing  of  the  body,  commissioned 
Lewis  Livingston,  son  of  Hon.  Edward  Livingston,  to  proceed 


380  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

to  Whitehall  to  receive  the  remains,  and  convey  them  to  New 
York. 

June  2oth,  Gov.  Clinton  wrote  to  Mrs.  Montgomery,  that 
the  remains  of  the  the  General  were  at  Whitehall.  The  body 
was  received  there  with  honors,  and  a  military  escort  accom 
panied  it  to  Albany,  where  it  arrived  on  Saturday,  July  4th, 
and  lay  in  state  at  the  Capitol  until  Monday.  It  was  then, 
removed  to  New  York,  under  a  military  escort,  on  steamboat 
Richmond.  The  Governor  had  written  to  Mrs.  Montgomery 
giving  the  time  when  the  boat  might  be  expected  to  pass 
Montgomery  Place.  She  had  lived  with  the  General  but 
three  years ;  and  it  was  then  forty  three  years  since  the  parting, 
kiss  was  given  at  General  Schuyler's  residence  at  Saratoga.. 
She  stood  alone  on  the  portico  of  her  mansion  fronting  the 
river,  at  the  appointed  hour,  watching  for  the  expected  boat. 
At  length  it  hove  in  sight.  Stopping  in  front  of  her  residence, 
the  band  played  the  "  Dead  March  ;"  a  salute  was  fired,  and 
the  boat  proceeded  on  her  way.  The  friends  of  the  lonely 
widow  now  sought  for  her : — she  had  fallen  into  a  swoon. 
"  Her  Soldier"  had  gone  forth  from  her  side  in  the  bloom  of 
life — nought  returned  to  her  but  his  ashes.  Mrs.  Montgomery 
died  in  the  month  of  November,  1827. 

A  short  distance  below  Barrytown  is  "  Rokeby,"  formerly 
the  country  seat  of  Gen'l.  John  Armstrong  who  married  Alida, 
a  sister  of  Chancellor  Livingston.  He  will  be  remembered 
as  an  officer  in  the  Revolution,  and  a  member  of  General 
Gates'  military  family.  Armstrong  was  the  author  of  the 
celebrated  addresses  which  were  circulated  at  Newburgh, 
already  familiar  to  the  student  of  history.  He  was  chosen 
successively  to  a  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate,  Embassador 
to  France,  Brigadier  General  in  the  Army,  and  Secretary  of 
War.  He  held  the  latter  office  in  1812 — 14,  during  the  war 
with  Great  Britain  which  Lossing  denominates  the  "  Second- 
War  for  American  Independence."  Gen.  Armstrong  was. 
author  of  a  ;'  Life  of  General  Montgomery,"  "  Life  of  General 
Wayne,"  and  "Historical  Notices  of  the  War  of  1812." 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  381 

The  "  Newburgh  Letters"  may  be  briefly  adverted  to  : — In 
1782,  the  soldiers  encamped  near  Newburgh  had  become 
discontented.  This  feeling  spread  among  other  portions  ol 
the  army,  and  was  assuming  formidable  proportions.  Com 
plaints  were  sent  to  Washington  through  Colonel  Nichola.  In 
May,  the  Colonel  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Commander-in-Chief, 
•which  affected  him  deeply.  In  that  letter  he  argued  that  no 
Republic  could  stand;  that  the  government  of  England  was 
the  nearest  perfection  of  any  on  earth.  He  depicted  in 
-strong  terms  the  destitution  of  the  army,  and  the  faint  hope 
that  the  poor  soldiers  would  ever  receive  any  pay  from 
Congress.  This  drew  a  feeling  reply  from  Washington. 

In  the  meantime  Congress  was  making  but  feeble  efforts  to 
satisfy  the  demands  of  the  soldiers.  Gen  Armstrong  wrote  an 
address  to  the  army,  which  was  circulated  anonymously,  and 
which  made  a  deep  impression  upon  the  minds  of  the  disaffected 
A  meeting  of  officers  was  called  on  the  nth  of  March. 
Washington  was  present  and  read  an  address.  His  first  words, 
before  unfolding  the  paper,  touched  every  heart.  "  You  see, 
gentlemen,"  said  he,  as  he  placed  his  spectacles  before  his  eyes, 
''that  I  have  not  only  grown  gray,  but  blind  in  your  service." 
It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  touching  appeals  of  the  Com 
mander-in-Chief  had  the  effect  of  quieting  the  excited  soldiery. 

As  before  intimated,  Gen.  Armstrong  was  a  man  of  eminent 
attainments.  One  illustration  of  his  power  as  a  political  writer, 
which  we  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  in  print,  we  will  give 
as  we  received  it  from  the  lips  of  an  aged  citizen  who  had  some 
acquaintance  with  the  General.  On  one  cccasion  a  member 
of  the  Livingston  family  was  nominated  for  an  office  to  which 
he  greatly  aspired.  Armstrong  wrote  an  address,  and  circulated 
it  anonymously,  stating  various  reasons  why  Livingston  should 
not  be  elected.  When  the  address  met  the  eye  of  the  latter, 
he  saw  at  once  the  arguments  it  contained  must  be  met  and 
refuted,  or  his  case  was  hopeless.  Unsuspicious  of  its  origin, 
he  sought  out  Gen'l  Armstrong,  laid,  his  trouble  before  him, 
and  requested  him  to  write  an  answer.  Said  Armstrong  "why 


382  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

not  write  the  reply  yourself?"  "  Oh,  I  cannot,"  replied  the 
other,  "you  are  the  only  one  I  know  of  that  is  capable  of 
doing  it  successfully ;  and  if  it  is  not  satisfactorily  answered,  I 
shall  be  defeated."  "  Well,"  said  Armstrong,  "  I  mil  write  the 
reply  provided  you  will  pay  me  $1000."  The  political  aspirant 
was  forced  to  acquiesce  to  the  proposal ;  the  answer  was 
circulated,  and  so  ably  was  it  written,  that  he  was  elected  to 
the  desired  position  by  a  handsome  majority. 

A  daughter  of  Armstrong  married  the  millionaire,  Wm.  B. 
Astor,  son  of  John  Jacob  Astor.  It  is  said  the  old  people 
first  proposed  the  marriage,  and  made  all  the  essential 
arrangements  for  the  ceremony,  before  the  young  folks  had 
seen  each  other. 

The  mills  were  a  prominent  feature  of  the  earlier  times. 
A  clothing  mill  and  saw  mill  formerly  occupied  the  site  of  the 
present  grist  mill  east  of  Madalin.  Above  this  is  a  mill,  now 
in  ruins,  known  as  Hoffman's  Mill,  which  has  been  occupied 
from  time  immemorial  by  the  family.  The  building,  as  well 
as  its  interior  arrangements,  was  of  the  most  primitive  kind. 
The  water  wheel  was  made  like  the  paddle  wheel  of  a  steam 
boat,  and  was  acted  upon  by  the  running  force  of  the  water 
only.  The  gearing,  by  which  the  power  was  communicated  to 
the  stone  was  of  the  simplest  kind — merely  wooden  cogs 
working  in  a  trundle-head;  while  the  stone  was  raised  or 
lowered  by  means  of  a  strap.  Each  run  of  stone  required 
a  separate  water  wheel.  A  rude  sort  of  elevator  consisted  of  a 
wooden  trough,  along  which  the  meal  or  flour  was  forced  by 
means  of  small  paddles.  There  was  not  an  iron  wheel  in  the 
the  whole  structure.  Cook's  grist  mill  was  formerly  a  cotton 
factory,  built  in  the  year  1786. 

About  a  mile  northeast  of  Madalin,  years  ago,  stood  the 
Old  Red  Dutch  Church,  belonging  to  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Society.  It  was  some  time  since  taken  down,  and  another 
structure,  of  more  modern  architecture,  erected  in  its  stead. 
The  old  church  was  built  probably  about  one  hundred  years 
ago,  though  the  absence  of  records  leaves  the  date  somewhat 
a  matter  of  conjecture.  The  house  was  a  curiosity  in  its  way. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

It  had  a  steeple,  situated  about  the  center  of  the  roof,  and  which 
was  surmounted  by  a  rooster.  When  the  sexton  rang  the  bell 
he  stood  in  the  centre  of  the  church.  A  raised  floor  extended 
along  each  side  of  the  body  of  the  house,  on  which  were  square 
pews,  provided  with  an  ornamental  railing  on  top,  so  high  that 
when  a  person  was  seated  nothing  of  him  was  visible  except  his 
head.  These  were  intended  for  the  use  of  the  families  of  the 
landed  proprietors.  The  common  people  occupied  the  slips 
in  the  body  of  the  church.  The  elders  and  leading  members 
sat  in  the  side  pews  on  either  side  of  the  pulpit.  This  was  in 
keeping  with  the  other  arrangements,  and  over  it  was  suspend 
ed  the  sounding  board,  then  reckoned  an  essential  thing  in  the 
construction  of  a  church.  When  this  church  was  demolished, 


A  Country  School  House. 

it  was  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  all  that  could  be  said 
against  it  being,  it  was  "  not  in  fashion."  Several  prominent 
citizens  plead  that  it  might  be  permitted  to  stand,  but  without 
avail. 

In  the  church  yard  are  monuments  of  freestone,  dating 
back  into  the  last  century.  One  of  the  oldest  was  erected  to 
the  memory  of  John  Grier,  who  died  on  the  i3th  of  March, 
1797;  aged  54  years.  Other  old  slabs  contain  the  family 
names  of  Vosburgh,  Roorback,  &c.  In  this  church  Dominies 
Fox,  Rudy,  Kettle,  Romaine,  and  other  eminent  men  have 
preached.  Zachariah  Hoffman  gave  the  ground  for  the  church 
and  burial  ground,  which  is  located  near  the  south  line  of  the 
Hoffman  Patent. 


384  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

A  dispute  once  arose  between  Hoffman  and  Chancellor 
Livingston  concerning  this  tract,  both  laying  claim  to  it.  A 
suit  at  law  was  held  in  the  Old  Dutch  Church  at  Germantown. 
Alexander  Hamilton  argued  the  case  for  Hoffman,  and  the 
Chancellor  plead  his  own  case.  Hoffman  was  the  victor. 

The  first  Episcopal  church  in  the  town  was  the  Church  of 
St.  Paul,  which  was  a  wooden  building,  erected  about  the  year 
1818,  and  stood  half  a  mile  east  of  Madalin.  It  was  rebuilt, 
of  stone,  in  1868,  and  now  stands  west  of  the  village,  roman 
tically  situated  in  a  wood.  The  first  Episcopal  sermon  was 
preached  in  1813,  by  Rogers,  from  Connecticut,  at  Palmer 
Cook's  house.  Cook  was  a  prominent  man,  and  had  removed 
from  Connecticut  that  year.  Dr.  Anthon,  of  St.  Marks  Church, 
New  York  City,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  the  new  church. 
The  Trinity  [Episcopal]  Church  stands  near  the  village  of 
Madalin.  A  school  is  held  in  the  building.  The  Trinity  is  the 
High  Church  and  St.  Pauls  the  Low  Church. 

The  Ref.  Dutch  Church  near  the  lower  border  of  the  town 
formerly  stood  in  Rhinebeck.  A  tornado  having  nearly  laid  it 
in  ruins,  the  structure  was  taken  down  and  rebuilt  in  its 
present  location. 

Near  the  north  limits  of  the  village  of  Madalin  stands  an 
elegant  monument  of  variegated  marble,  erected 
"by  this  immediate  neighborhood  to  her  defen 
ders  who  lost  their  lives  in  suppressing  the  slave 
holders'  rebellion."  On  it  are  the  names  of 
twenty-nine  soldiers,  representing  many  of  the 
bloody  battle-fields  of  that  struggle.  Four 
cannon,  partially  sunk  into  the  ground,  with 
breech  uppermost,  serve  for  posts,  to  which  is  attached  a  chain 
enclosing  the  monument.  One  of  these  cannon  was  presented 
by  each  of  the  following  named  persons  :  Johnston  Livingston, 
Eugene  A.  Livingston,  William  Chamberlain,  and  Brevet  Maj. 
Gen.  DePeyster. 

A  house  in  the  vicinity  was  in  olden  times  said  to  have 
been  haunted.  Many  stones  were  circulated  of  strange  sights 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  385 

ail  sounds  within  it.  Finally  no  one  could  be  prevailed  upon 
to  live  tnere,  and  it  stood  a  long  time  untenanted.  At  length 
it  was  purchased  by  a  gentleman  residing  in  Albany,  who  sent 
some  workmen  to  repair  it.  They  determined  to  have  some 
sport  at  the  expense  of  the  people  of  the  neighborhood.  They 
collected  a  lot  of  old  lumber  in  the  garret,  and  so  arranged  it 
that  by  pulling  a  string  the  lumber  could  be  made  to  fall  upon 
the  floor  with  a  terrible  clatter.  They  then  represented  that 
at  precisely  four  o'clock  each  afternoon,  a  fearful  noise  would 
commence  in  the  upper  part  of  the  house,  as  though  the 
building  was  coming  down  ;  but  on  going  to  the  place  nothing 
could  be  Keen.  Numbers  came  from  the  surrounding  neighbor 
hood  to  hear  the  uproar,  and  went  away  full  of  the  idea  that 
the  house  was  haunted  by  "  some  wandering  ghost."  The 
secret  finally  came  out,  and  ever  afterwards  the  matter  rested. 
No  ghost  has  latterly  dared  to  show  himself  or  play  his  pranks 
about  the  premises. 

The  Baptist  church  at  Red  Hook  may  be  regarded  as  the 
first  fruit  of  the  missionary  labor  sustained  by  the  Association 
in  the  county.  Elders  Stokes  and  James  preached  at  Myers- 
ville  [now  Madalin]  in  this  town,  a  part  of  the  time  for  two 
years.  Isaac  Bevan  held  a  series  of  meetings  at  Myersville  in 
September,  1842,  in  a  schoolhouse.  In  January  following,  he 
commenced  a  series  of  meetings  at  the  Landing  [Tivoli]  in  a 
store  kindly  offered  by  its  owners,  Messrs.  Collins.  These 
meetings  were  continued  a  number  of  weeks,  with  favorable 
results.  Elders  Benedict  and  Shook  rendered  some  assistance 
during  the  meetings.  March  i3th,  seventeen  of  those  who  had 
already  been  baptized  in  the  place  resolved  themselves  into  a 
church.  On  the  following  day  they  were  publicly  recognized 
by  a  council  called  from  t'.ie  neighboring  churches.  Rev.  D. 
Morris,  Rosendale,  preached  the  sermon.  They  erected  a 
church  in  1843,  at  a  cost  of  a  little  less  than  $1000. 


RHINEBECK. 


POPULATION,     1,322. SQUARE   ACRES,    21,766. 


HINEBECK  was  formed  as  a  town,  March  yth,  1788, 
Red  Hook  was  taken  off  in  1812.  It  lies  upon  the 
fa  Hudson,  northwest  of  the  center  of  the  county.  Its 
surface  is  a  rolling,  and  moderately  hilly  upland, 
terminating  on  the  river  in  bluffs  100  to  150  feet  high.  Land- 
mans  Creek,  the  principal  stream,  flews  south  through  near 
the  center.  Rhinebeck  Kil  is  its  tributary.  Lake  Sepasco  is 
a  small  body  of  water  in  the  northeist  corner.  The  soil  is 
principally  a  fine  quality  of  sandy  loam.  The  name  is  com 
pounded  from  Rhine,  in  Germany,  from  whence  the  early 
settlers  came,  and  the  first  syllable  of  the  word  Beekman.  It 
was  originally  spelled  Rhinebeek,  which  confirms  the  statement 
that  the  origin  of  the  word  is  as  given  above,  although  some  anti 
quarians  hold  that  it  was  named  after  Rhinebeck  in  Germany, 
it  being  the  custom  of  the  early  emigrants  to  perpetuate  the 
names  of  places  in  the  "  Fader  Land"  by  bestowing  them  on 
localities  in  the  new,  and  thus  keeping  alive  the  tender 
memories  of  by-gone  days.  Rhinebeck  Precinct,  as  formed 
Dec.  1 6th,  1737,  included  the  lands  purchased  of  Widow 

386 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  387 

Paulding  and  her  children  by  Dr.  Samuel  Staats  ;  all  the  land 
grinteJ  to  Airian,  Roosa,  and  Cotbe ;  land  patented  by  Col. 
Henry  Beekman,  June  5,  1703  ;  and  the  land  granted  to  Col. 
Peter  Schuyler,  called  the  Magdalen  Island  Purchase.  Among 
the  first  families  were  those  named  Kip,  Beekman,  Sipperly, 
Pink,  Schmidt,  Slioptown,  Elseffer,  &c. 

The  first  land  purchased  in  the  town  of  Rhinebeck,  of 
which  we  have  any  record,  was  that  bought  by  Jacobus*  and 
Hendrick  Kip,  of  three  Esopus  Indians,  in  the  year  1686. 
The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  deed : 

We  the  underwritten  Ankony,  one  of  ye  Esopus  Indians, 
and  Anamaton  and  Calycoon, |  one  of  the  Esopus  Sachems, 
do  acknowledge  to  have  received  of  Henry  Kip,  of  Kings 
town,  full  satisfaction  for  a  parcel  of  land  lying  over  [opposite] 
the  Redout  [Rondout]  against  the  Redoubt  Kill  [Rondout 
Creek]  on  the  north  side  of  Arian  Roosa  on  the  river,  which 
is  received  by  me  Ankony,  Anamaton  and  Calycoon  in  full 
satisfaction  for  the  above  said  lands.  In  witness  hereof  have 
hereunto  set  our  marks  this  28th  day  of  July,  1686. 

,p      •  The  mark  of  w  Ankony. 

HE* RY  PAWLING.  ™e  mar!<  °f  (•>  Anamaton 

J  he  mark  01  u  Calycoon. 

June  2cl,  1688,  a  confirmatory  title  to  Kipsburgh  Manor 
was  granted  by  his  excellency  Gov.  Dengan  to  Garrett  Artson, 
Adrian  Roosa,  John  Elting,  Hendrick  and  Jacobus  Kip.  The 
original  deed  is  in  possession  of  William  Bergh  Kip,  who 
resides  on  a  portion  of  the  lands  conveyed  by  this  deed,  and 
is  one  of  the  descendants  of  Henry  Kip.  He  has  likewise 
the  will  of  Hendricus  Hermance,  Rynbeck  precinct,  dated 
March  23d,  1750,  devising  four  farms,  probably  in  the  upper 
part  of  Red  Hook. 

Kip  owned  the  property  along  the  river  west  of  Landmans 
Kill  up  as  far  as  a  certain  oak  tree  standing  near  the  track  of 
the  Rhinebeck  and  Connecticut  Railroad.  Jacob  Kip,  a  very 
old  man,  used  to  say  that  an  Indian  was  painted  on  the  tree. 


*  .Tnc'-h'i«  Kip.  \v:i*  horn  An/nst  2~<t'i.  HiW.     He  was   therefore  20  years   old  \\hen 
Kipsbur-h  Manor  was  junc'iaM-'l  (,f  tlio  Indians, 
t  (Jalycoon  is  the  Dutch  tor  turkey. 


383  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

An  old  resident  says  he  remembers  when  the  only  houses  were 
the  old  stone  house  near  Noxon's  shop,  called  the  State 
Prison  ;  next  where  Mrs.  Staats  lives ;  next  a  stone  house 
where  John  Williams  lives,  which  was  kept  as  a  hotel.  Another 
house  near  by  was  occupied  by  Benj.  Fredenburgh,  who  kept 
the  town  poor. 

About  seventeen  years  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the 
above  deed  conveying  lands  to  Hendrick  Kip,  a  Patent  was 
granted  to  Col.  Henry  Beekman  by  Queen  Anne,  including 
the  territory  already  occupied  by  Kip.  Undoubtedly  Beek 
man  had  sufficient  influence  with  the  Crown  to  secure  for  him 
self  the  coveted  Rhinebeck  Flats,  notwithstanding  others  had 
.acquired  a  previous  title.  There  are  receipts  and  other  docu 
ments  to  show  that  Beekman  made  some  arrangements  with 
the  former  proprietors  after  he  obtained  the  patent.  We 
insert  the  copy  of  a  receipt,  which  shows  how  the  small  land 
owners  were  swallowed  up  by  the  patentees  and  other  great 
land  proprietors ;  and  also  that  the  former  were  forced  to  pay 
a  rent  to  the  latter  for  the  whole  time  they  occupied  the  soil, 
in  addition  to  having  their  lands  wrested  from  them  : 

A  receipt  of  52  bushels  of  wheat  making  the  amount  of 
370  bushels  of  wheat  being  the  arrears  of  37  years  due  to  his 
majesty  to  the  vear  1725,  for  Quit  Rent  of  a  Patent  granted 
June  2,  1688,  to  Colonel  Peter  Schuyler,  lying  in  Duchess 
County,  consisting  of  two  tracts  of  land,  the  one  near  Magdalen 
Island,  and  the  other  at  the  Long  Reatch  on  the  south  side  of 
SL  place  called  Poghkeepsie,  which  quantity  of  370  bushels  of 
wheat  I  acknowledge  to  have  received  in  full  for  the  above 
mentioned  purpose.  Witness  my  hand  this  4th  day  of 
October,  1727.  ARCHD.  KENNEDY,  Rec'r.  Gen'l. 

William  Beekman  was  the  ancestor  of  this  Beekman  family, 
:and  was  first  a  resident  of  New  York  City.  His  name  is 
perpetuated  by  two  streets,  William  and  Beekman.  He  came 
from  Holland  in  the  same  vessel  with  Stuyvesant,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  Full  of  strong,  healthy  life,  and  ambition,  he 
employed  his  leisure  in  searching  for  a  spot  to  invest  his  money 
for  he  had  not  come  empty  handed  from  abroad.  He  finally 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  389 

purchased  a  tract  on  Corlear's  Hook,  and  shortly  afterward 
fell  in  love  with  the  pretty  blue-eyed  Catherine  Von  Boogh. 
In  the  course  of  years  he  rose  to  distinction.  At  one  time  he 
was  vice-director  of  the  colony  on  the  Delaware,  and  at 
another  time  was  Sheriff  at  Esopus.  He  was  nine  years  a- 
burgomaster  of  New  Amsterdam.  In  1670  he  bought  a  farm 
stretching  along  the  East  River  for  a  great  distance.  His 
orchard  lay  upon  a  side-hill  running  down  to  the  swamp  which 
was  called  Cripple  Bush,  and  through  which  Beekman  Street 
now  passes.  He  had  five  sons,  and  only  one  daughter,  Maria. 
This  daughter  married  Nicholas  William  Stuyvesant,  a  son  of 
the  Governor. 

Col.  Hen:y  Beekman  was  one  of  the  five  sons.  He  died 
in  1737,  leaving  three  children: — Henry  Beekman,  Jun. ; 
Cornelia,  wife  of  Gilbert  Livingston ;  and  Catherine,  who 
married  John  Rutsen  for  her  first  husband,  and  afterwards 
Albert  Pawling.  She  left  two  children.  Col.  Henry  Beekman 
died  intestate  it  is  supposed,  and  the  property  was  divided 
among  his  heirs.  The  partition  agreement  was  dated  August 
3oth,  173".  He  was  at  one  time  Judge  of  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  in  Ulster  county. 

Henry  Beekman,  Jun.,  had  one  daughter,  Margaret,  who 
married  Robert  Livingston.  They  had  four  sons  and  six 
daughters,  viz.:  Janet,  Robert  R.,  Margaret,  Henry  B.,. 
Cithe:ine,  John  R.,  G-t;u:le,  Joanna,  Al  di,  and  E  l.vanl. 

Janet,  the  eldest,  born  1743,  married  Major  General 
Richard  Montgomery.  To  her  was  devised,  by  will  of  her 
mother  Margaret,  the  land  on  which  Rhinebeck  village  is 
situated.  At  her  death,  Janet  devised  a  portion  to  her  brother 
Edward,  and  the  remaining  part  to  the  Rhinebeck  Improve 
ment  Company.  This  company  consisted  of  Rutsen  Suckley, 
Freeborn  Garrettson,  Join  T.  Sc'iryver,  W.l'iam  B.  Platt,  and 
Walter  Cunningham,  who  divided  it  among  themselves. 

Major-General  Richard  Montgomery  was  the  youngest  sorr 
of  Thomas  Montgomery,  M.  P.,  for  Lifford.  He  was  born  on 
the  2nd  of  December,  1736,  at  Convoy  House,  his  father's  seat 


39°  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

near  Raphoe,  county  of  Donegal,  Ireland  ;  received  his  educa 
tion  at  Trinity  College,  Dublin  ;  entered  the  army  as  Ensign 
in  the  xyth  Regiment  of  Foot,  on  the  2ist  of  August,  1756, 
.and  landed  at  Halifax,  with  that  regiment,  on  the  third  of 
June,  1757. 

In  the  following  year  he  served  under  Wolfe  at  the  siege 
of  Louisbourg,  and  with  such  distinction  that  he  was  immedi 
ately  promoted  to  a  Lieutenancy.  After  the  fall  of  that  place, 
the  i7th  Regiment  formed  part  of  the  force  sent  in  1759, 
with  Amherst,  to  reduce  the  French  forts  on  Lake  Champlain, 
and  Montgomery  became  Adjutant  of  his  regiment  on  the 
i5th  of  May,  1760,  in  which  year  it  formed  part  of  the  army 
that  advanced  from  Lake  Champlain  against  Montreal,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  Haviland. 

One  calm  summer  evening  he  stood  on  the  shore  of  Lake 
Champlain,  gazing  out  upon  the  beautiful  expanse  of  water. 
Before  him  was  the  girdled  lake,  studded  with  islands,  afford 
ing  a  most  romantic  and  picturesque  prospect.  As  the  poetic 
feeling  kindled  his  dark  eye,  he  little  thought  of  the  destiny 
that  awaited  him  ;  that  in  the  full  strength  of  manhood,  he 
was  to  lead  over  those  very  waters  a  band  of  freemen,  and  fall 
foremost  in  freedom's  battle. 

He  served  in  the  West  Indies  in  1762,  on  the  5th  of  May 
of  which  year  he  was  promoted  to  be  Captain.  After  return- 
i.ig  to  New  York,  he  went  back  to  Ireland  in  1767.  He 
retired  from  the  service  in  1772,  and  returned  to  America  in 
January,  1773  ;  in  July  following  he  married  Janet,  the 
daughter  of  Justice  Livingston,  and  settled  at  Rhinebeck, 
•where  be  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits.  In  April, 
1775,  *ie  was  elected  one  of  the  delegates  from  this  county  to 
the  first  Provincial  Congress  at  New  York,  and  in  June  follow- 
ing  was  appointed  Brigadier-General  by  the  Continental  Con 
gress,  and  at  once  set  out  at  the  head  of  an  expedition  against 
Canada.  After  reducing  St.  Johns,  Chambly  and  Montreal, 
he  effected  a  junction  with  Arnold  before  the  walls  of  Quebec, 
where  he  gloriously  fell  at  the  head  of  his  men  on  the  3ist  of 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  39! 

December,  1775,  in  the  4oth  year  of  his  age,  having  been  shot 
through  both  his  thighs  and  through  his  head. 

A  day  or  two  previous  to  leaving  for  Canada,  he  with  his 
wife  went  to  pay  a  parting  visit  to  the  occupants  of  the  place 
near  Rhinebeck,  afterwards  occupied  by  his  brother-in-law, 
Peter  R.  Livingston.  As  he  was  walking  on  the  lawn,  in  the 
rear  of  the  mansion,  he  thrust  a  little  willow  whip  into  the 
earth,  and  playfully  remarked  that  they  must  preserve  that  to 
remember  him  by.  That  whip  grew  into  a  tree,  and  it  is  yet 
standing,  having  attained  a  growth  of  more  than  ten  feet  in 
circumference,  and  is  known  to  this  day  as  "  Montgomery's 
Willow." 

In  his  determination  to  join  the  army  he  met  with  no 
opposition  from  his  wife.  She  was  all  for  her  country,  emula 
ting  the  Spartan  mother  in  her  patriotic  zeal.  She  accompani 
ed  her  husband  as  far  north  as  Saratoga,  when  she  received 
the  last  kiss,  and  heard  the  last  words  from  the  lips  of  her 
beloved  companion.  "  You  never  shall  have  cause  to  blush 
for  your  Montgomery,"  he  said  to  her,  and  nobly  did  he  vindi 
cate  his  word. 

Edward  Livingston  used  to  relate  some  reminiscences 
relative  to  the  parting  scenes  of  the  General  and  his  wife.  He 
wis  then  a  mere  boy,  and  accompanied  his  sister  (Mrs. 
Montgomery)  to  the  residence  of  General  Schuyler  in  Saratoga. 
The  evening  previous  to  Montgomery's  departure,  they,  the 
General,  his  wife,  and  Edward,  were  sitting  in  a  room  together. 
Montgomery  was  sitting  between  the  other  two,  in  his  military 
dress;  his  wife  was  gizin^  thoughtfully  into  the  fire-place,  as  if 
reading  the  future,  Suddenly  he  broke  out,  as  in  a  dream,  in 
the  words  of  the  poet : 

"  "Pis  a  mad  world,  mv  masters  : 
I  owe  thought  so,  now  I  know  il." 

Said  Edward,  "the  tones,  the  words,  and  the  circumstances 
overawed  me ;  and  I  soon  withdrew  from  the  apartment. 
Often  have  I  since  reflected  upon  those  words,  uttered  by 
that  young  soldier,  and  wondered  whether  he  may  have  had  at 
that  moment  s 0:112  prophetic  vision  of  his  future  destiny." 


392  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

Margaret,  second  daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Liv 
ingston,  married  Dr.  Thomas  Tillotson  (Surgeon  General  of 
U.  S.  Army,  and  Sec.  of  State  of  N.  Y.),  in  1779,  and  died 
in  Rhinebeck,  in  1823,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years,  leaving 
several  children. 

Mr.  Tillotson  invited  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson,  a  promi 
nent  Methodist  clergyman,  to.  preach  at  Rhinebeck,  and  who 
passed  several  weeks  at  his  house  as  a  guest.  Tillolson's 
sister-in-law,  Catherine  Livingston,  was  there  on  a  visit  at  the 
same  time.  A  friendship  grew  up  between  them,  which  ended 
in  marriage  in  1793.  Six  years  after  the  marriage  they  pur 
chased  a  place  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  near  Rhinebeck 
Station,  erected  a  mansion,  and  named  it  "  Wildercliff."*  It 
was  built  in  accordance  with  the  simple  tastes  of  the  proprietor. 
Rev.  Mr.  Garrettson  was  a  leader  among  the  Methodists  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  When  he  left  the  Church 
of  England,  in  which  he  had  been  educated,  the  Methodists 
were  despised  in  most  places.  He  was  a  native  of  Maryland, 
and  being  convinced  of  the  sinfulness  of  slavery,  he  gave  his 
slaves  their  freedom.  He  r  reached  everywhere,  and  was  fear 
less  in  the  denunciation  of  what  he  believed  to  be  error,  and 
strenuous  in  upholding  what  he  believed  to  be  right.  On  one 
occasion,  a  mob  had  seized  him  after  the  delivery  of  one  of  his 
pointed  sermons,  and  was  taking  him  to  prison  by  order  of  the 
magistrate,  when  a  flash  of  lightning  dispersed  them,  leaving 
him  unmolested.  In  1788  he  was  appointed  Presiding  Elder 
over  the  churches  in  the  district  extending  from  Long  Island 
Sound  to  Lake  Champlain,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles. 
Probably  no  house  in  the  world  has  ever  had  within  it  so  many 
Methodist  preac'iers  as  this  one  at  Wildercliff,  from  the  most 
humble  member  to  Bishop  Asbury ;  for  the  doors  of  Mr.  Gar 
rettson  and  his  wife  were  open  to  all. 

Mrs.  Garrettson  wrote  in  1799:  "  Our  house  being  nearly 
finished,  in  October  we  moved  into  it.  The  first  night  we 

*  Wi  <](>r  Klippe.  a  Dutch  word,  sifrni.yinjr  wild  man's  or  wild  Indian's  Cliff.  The 
first  sf.  lurs  found  upon  a  smooth  reck  on  tho  riv'cr  shore,  a  rude  delineation  (,f  iwo  Indi 
ans.  OIH-  with  a  tomahawk,  and  another  with  a  calumet,  or  pipe  of  pua«i;.  This  gavo> 
them  an  iu<.«oi  thu  iiu.ni:.— [Losbing. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  393 

spent  in  family  prayer.  While  my  blessed  husband  was  dedi 
cating  it  to  the  Lord,  the  place  was  filled  by  His  presence, 
who,  in  days  of  old,  filled  the  temple  with  His  glory  Every 
heart  rejoiced  and  felt  that  God  was  with  us  of  a  truth.  Such 
was  our  introduction  to  our  new  habitation,  and  have  we  not 
reason  to  say,  with  Joshua  of  old,  'As  for  me  and  my  house  we 
will  serve  the  Lord  ?'  " 

Says  Mrs.  Olin  :  "  It  was  a  home  for  the  Lord's  people ; 
strangers  were  welcomed  as  brethren  ;  and  many  a  weary  itine 
rant  has  rtsted  there  as  in  the  Palace  Beautiful.  Relatives  and 
f/iends  came  to  the  house  year  after  year,  and  enjoyed  delight 
ful  interchange  of  thought  and  feeling  with  Christians  of  differ 
ent  denominations.  How  many  who  have  enjoyed  the  genial 
hospitality  of  this  house  will  recall  the  dignified  form  of  the 
hostess,  with  her  marked  features,  her  soft  hazel  eye,  the  brown 
hair  parted  under  the  close  fitting  cap  with  its  crimped  muslin 
border,  and  the  neatly  fitting  dress,  always  simple,  yet  always 
becoming." 

No  one  could  imagine  that  this  was  the  gay  young  lady 
that  had  been  asked  for  in  the  dance  by  General  Washington. 
She  outlived  nearly  all  of  her  sisters  and  brothers.  Mr.  Gar- 
rettson  was  seized  with  a  sudden  illness  at  the  home  of  afrierd 
of  his  in  New  York,  in  1827,  which  resulted  in  a  speedy  death. 
Mrs.  Garrettson  survived  him  more  than  twenty  years.  In  1849, 
in  her  9/th  year,  she  started  on  a  visit  to  her  sister-in  law,  Mrs. 
Edward  Livingston,  at  Montgomery  Place,  where  she  was  taken 
suddenly  ill,  and  died  on  the  i4th  of  July. 

The  mansion  at  Wildercliff  is  now  occupied  by  Miss  Mary 
Garrettson,*  a  daughter  of  the  clergyman.  She  has  more  than 
reached  the  three  score  and  ten  years  allotted  to  mankind  ; 
yet  she  has  all  her  mental  faculties  in  full  play,  and  she  con 
tinues  to  bestow  the  generous  hospitality  for  which  the  house 
was  anciently  noted.  She  maintains  two  Methodist  ministers 
in  her  household,  one  of  whom  has  a  wife  and  two  children 

*  Thi-.  v  iiTabl"  l>idv  oxhibit^rt  to  tlio  "--'tor  n  p'rcf*  of  silver  pla'o  bearinsr  f^o  arms 
oftV  I  iviii'j.sti.n  tiimjly.  Thonrtiel  •  is  pmb  b"  •  n.  arlv  two  cfiturios  oh]  Tlio  i-m-jp- 
tion  I'.-is  h  on  p'irt.'-'llv  rfTHec"!  bv  t\  d  s'v»ii-s,  ilv<-r^'  i  'i.  to  whom  it  was  scut  to  bi:  bur 
nished,  and  who  rubbed  off  uiorc  silver  than  was  nccu&bury. 


394  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

with  him.  She  says  the  house  has  never  been  other  than  a 
Methodist  parsonage.  We  subjoin  two  or  three  incidents 
connected  with  the  history  of  her  ancestors,  which  we  do  not 
remember  to  have  seen  in  print,  as  received  from  her  lips. 

Some  time  in  the  season  of  1777,  a  sloop  came  down  the 
river,  having  on  board  a  British  officer,  severely  wounded. 
When  opposite  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Robert  Livingston,  a 
messenger  was  sent  ashore,  to  ask  permission  of  Mrs.  Livings 
ton  for  the  wounded  officer  to  be  brought  into  her  house, 
as  he  could  not  bear  being  carried  farther  on  the  sloop.  The 
good  lady  assented,  charitable  even  towards  a  fallen  foe ;  and 
the  officer  was  brought  on  shore,  attended  only  by  his 
physician.  Weeks  elapsed  before  he  became  convalescent ; 
but  at  last  he  rallied  sufficiently  to  walk  about. 

This  was  about  the  time  that  Burgoyne  on  the  north  and 
Clinton  on  the  south  we  e  threatening  the  country  bordering 
the  Hudson.  Many  of  the  Whigs  along  that  river  had  engaged 
houses  farther  inland,  in  momentary  expectation  of  being 
forced  to  fly  for  safety.  Their  consternation  was  still  greater 
when  Vaughan  set  out  up  the  Hudson  on  his  ever  memorable 
marauding  voyage. 

Many  of  their  dwellings  were  fired  upon,  and  not  a  few  set 
on  fire.  As  they  approached  the  mansion  where  the 
wounded  British  soldier  was  quartered,  the  surgeon  proposed 
that  the  officer  be  put  into  it,  and  then  represent  to  the 
invaders  that  he  could  not  be  removed  without  greatly 
endangering  his  life,  and  in  this  way  the  house  might  be  saved 
from  destruction.  "  No,"  said  the  owner  of  the  property, 
"never  shall  it  be  said  that  my  house  was  saved  by  having  a 
British  officer  within  it."  The  soldiery  applied  the  torch,  and 
the  mansion  was  soon  in  ruins. 

Another  incident :  an  ancestor  of  hers,  a  young  girl,  lived 
with  her  parents  on  Long  Island,  at  a  time  when  there  were 
comparatively  few  white  people  there.  One  day  a  squaw  was 
termted  to  pilfer  some  peaches  growing  on  the  premises  of  a 
white  settler ;  she  was  detected  by  the  owner,  who  shot  and 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  395 

killed  her.  This  act  caused  a  general  uprising  of  the  savages, 
who  determined  on  revenge,  yet  kept  their  purpose  a  secret 
from  their  white  neighbors.  The  parents  of  the  girl  had 
occasion  to  go  to  New  York  about  this  time,  taking  her  along 
with  them.  When  ready  to  return,  the  girl  showed  a  desire 
not  to  return.  When  asked  for  her  reason,  she  replied  she  had 
a  vague  feeling  of  horror,  as  though  some  evil  would  befall  her 
if  she  did  not  remain  where  she  was.  She  was  suffered  to 
remain,  and  the  parents  returned  home.  That  night  the 
savages  massacred  the  whole  white  population  of  the  settle 
ment.  The  girl's  premonition  saved  her  life. 

Once  her  great-grandfather,  Henry  Beekman,  when  a  boy, 
was  playing  with  some  Indian  lads  near  a  sand  bank.  Henry 
left  the  place  before  the  others  did ;  and  soon  afterward  the 
bank  fell  in,  burying  all  the  little  Indians  under  it.  As  they 
did  not  come  home,  the  Indian  parents  began  to  search  for 
them.  Unable  to  ascertain  their  whereabout?,  they  began  to 
accuse  Henry  of  having  foully  dealt  with  them,  as  they  were 
last  seen  in  his  company.  He  told  them  that  when  he  lar.t 
suv  the  Indian  boys  they  were  playing  near  the  sandbank, 
aid  ongoing  there  saw  the  bank  had  fallen.  They  commenced 
digging,  and  the  bodies  of  the  missing  ones  were  found. 

A  little  above  the  residence  of  Miss  Garrettson  stands  the 
ancient  grove,  distinguished  in  the  annals  of  the  Methodist 
Church  as  having  been  the  scene  of  camp  meeting?,  such  as 
were  held  when  Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  and  his  cotempo- 
riries  were  on  the  stage  of  action.  We  passed  through  it  as 
the  shades  of  evening  were  creeping  over  the  landscape  and 
puised  a  moment  among  the  grand  old  trees  that  "oft  have 
listened  to  the  voice  of  song  and  praise"  of  the  pioneer  Metho 
dists.  Within  these  limits  many  a  weary  soul  has  been  led  to 
that  fount  from  whence  flows  eternal  life.  Here  hundreds 
have  gathered,  from  near  and  from  far,  to  listen  to  the  preached 
word.  Here  many  a  word  has  been  dropped,  whose  influence 
has  gone  out  into  the  world,  and  will  continue  to  act  as  long 
as  time  lasts. 


HISTORV  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

The  Methodist  Church  at  Rhinebeck  was  erected  in  1822^ 
Rev.  Freeborn  Garrettson  contributing  largely  towards  its 
erection.  His  monument  stands  in  the  graveyard  attached  to 
this  church. 

Gertrude,  also  a  sister  of  the  Chancellor,  was  born  in  1757, 
and  married  Governor  Morgan  Lewis.  He  was  at  the  bloody 
battle  of  Stillwster;  led  the  van  of  the  attack  against  Johnson 
and  Brant  at  Klock's  Field,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mohawk; 
was  Attorney  General  of  the  State  of  New  York,  and  after 
wards  Governor.  He  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  founder  of 
the  common  school  system.  He  was  President  of  the  Society 
of  the  Cincinnati  from  1838  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1844,  in  the  Qoth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  died 
in  1837. 

Joanna  Livingston,  born  in  1759,  married  the  great  politi 
cian,  Peter  R.  Livingston.  He  passed  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  at  Rhinebeck.  It  is  on  the  farm  occupied  by  him  that 
Montgomery's  Willow  stands.  Joanna  died  February,  1827. 
The  Livingston  family  was  a  most  remrrkatli  one.  All  of  the 
daughters  married  distinguished  men  ;  and  the  sons  occup'ed 
high  positions.  Writes  Mrs.  Montgomery  of  a  family  dinner 
party  :  "  Never  was  a  table  so  surrounded.  All  the  sisters  were 
ardent  politicians,  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  who  followed 
with  intelligent  appreciation  the  public  labors  of  their  brothers 
and  husbands." 

John  R.  Livingston,  a  son  cf  Jurlge  Livingston,  married 
Margaret  SheafTe,  in  1779.  Margaret  was  greatly  admired  by 
LiFayette.  Said  he  to  John  E.,  while  the  latter  was  paying 
h's  addresses,  "  Were  I  not  a  married  man,  I  would  try  and 
cut  you  out."  When  he  returned  to  his  native  France,  he  sent 
her  a  handsome  present.  John  R.  was  a  merchant  in  New 
York  ;  retiring  from  business  he  returned  to  his  estate  in  Red' 
Hook,  now  owned  by  the  Aspinwall  family. 

Thus  is  given,  in  brief,  a  sketch  cf  this  most  remaikalle 
firmly.  We  doubt  if  a  parallel  can  be  found  in  the  annals  of 
the  whole  country. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  397 

Conspicuous  among  them  was  the  lamented  Montgomery, 
a  man  of  genteel,  manly,  graceful  address,  and  possessing  the 
love  and  confidence  of  the  whole  army.  Congress  voted  a 
monument  to  his  memory;  and  in  1818  his  remains  were  taken 
up  and  conveyed  to  New  York,  where  they  were  deposited 
with  the  highest  honors  in  St.  Paul's  Church.* 

The  first  church — Reformed  Protestant  German — was 
formed  May  23d,  1724,  at  the  present  village  of  Monterey. 
This  was  originally  the  village  of  Rhinebeck  ;  what  is  now 
Rhinebeck  being  then  called  Rhinebeck  Flats.  The  old  church 
edifice  having  been  injured  in  a  severe  tornado,  the  structure 
was  taken  down  and  afterward  built  in  the  town  of  Red  Hook. 
The  Lutheran  Church  at  Monterey  was  formed  in  1730. 
Fred.  Henry  Quitman,  father  of  General  Quitman,  of  the 
Mexican  War,  was  for  several  years  pastor  of  this  church.  He 
was  born  in  die  Duchy  of  Cleves,  Westphalia,  1760,  and  died 
in  1832. 

The  Dutch  Church  at  Rhinebeck  Flats  came  into  being 
simultaneously  with  the  German  Reformed  at  Monterey. 
John  Benner  used  to  tell  the  following  story  :  The  first  minis 
ter  that  preached  in  either  church  came  from  Germany.  At 
first  he  preached  in  both  churches  on  the  same  day.  The 
German  Reformed  Church  at  Monterey  raised  their  full  quota 
of  the  salary.  The  Dutch  Reformed  at  the  Flats  were  short. 
Notwithstanding  this,  the  minister  preached  the  first  sermon  in 
tlu  latter  church.  At  the  close  of  the  services,  it  is  said,  one 
Hendrick  Heermance,  probably  one  of  the  elders,  was  in  rap 
tures  over  the  sermon  ;  he  urged  the  people  to  put  their  hands 
in  their  pockets  and  complete  their  portion  of  the  salary.  The 
good  people  demurred,  however,  until  they  could  hear  him 
preach  in  a  language  they  could  understand — the  sermon 

*  A'._rni>isr  th'1  c'mncel  fid  of  St  Paul's  c'uirc1').  ami  fici'iir  I'.ro  id  va<-.  is  a  monument 
on  which  is  tin  following  inscription:  "This  monument  is  civcted  bv  order  Com-ross.  2"  ill 

of  Ja'in  irv.  177K.  to  trai^mit  to  posterity  a  jrratefnl  rom-mliram f  tin-  pairn  tic  conduct. 

enterprise  and  porsovera-ice  of  M  ijor-O-  oral  iiic'<ard  .Montgomery,  who.  after  a  series  <>f 
successes  amid  the  most  diM-otira;,'inir  difficulties  fell  in  the  attack  on  Qucl><  c,  olst  of  l>e- 
ri'inb  -r,  177-r).  a  red  '•'>!  years."  lie  who  parses  on  the  street  can  easily  <]<  cipher  the  inscrip 
tion,  and  t'l  re  is  nor  a  pi  ^asa-it  dav  that  does  nor  witness  little  irronps  pi-crint;  through  t:  o 
iron  rnilinvs  to  ^tndv  the  record  of  the  j,'  illant  yoii'ii.'  patriot,  whose  praises  were  sounded 
in  Par!  awnt  l>y  r.arre.  r,nrke.  and  Chatham,  and  whosi!  lass  was  lUt  thruuyhout  the. 
to  bu  a  public  calamity. 


398  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

having  been  delivered  in  German — a  fact  which  Heermance  had 
not  discerned  before.  Annexed  is  a  copy  of  deed  by  which 
Henry  Beekman  conveyed  a  tract  of  land  on  Rhinebeck  Flats 
for  the  use  of  the  church  : 

ATT  the  Request  of  Lowrens  Oosterhout  Jacob  Kip  and 
Wm.  Traphagan  and  the  Rest  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  North 
Ward  in  Dutchess  County.  I  have  surveyed  and  laid  out  for 
them  a  certain  tract  or  parcel  of  land  being  situate  and  lying  in. 
Dutchess  County  aforesaid  on  the  north  side  of  a  certain 
Creek  called  Lansmans  Kill  near  the  house  of  Wm.  Schut. 
Beginning  at  a  stone  putt  in  the  ground  on  the  north  side  of 
the  said  Creek  from  thence  running  North  twenty  chains  to  a 
stone  putt  in  the  ground,  then  East  one  degree  South,  nineteen 
chains  to  a  white  oak  saplin  marked ;  then  South  Twenty 
chains  to  the  said  Creek  ;  then  along  the  same  as  it  winds  and 
turns  to  the  first  station.  Bounded  on  the  South  by  the  Creek 
and  on  all  other  sides  by  Lands  of  Col.  Henry  Beekman — 
containing  forty  and  four  acre  two  Quarters  and  thirty  and 
three  perches. 

Performed  this  26th  day  of  August,  1730. 

Per  me — GER.  VAN  WAGENEN. 

Henry  Beekman  also  conveyed  two  acres  of  land  at  the 
same  time,  where  the  Dutch  Church  now  stands,  to  the  Inhab 
itants  of  Rhinebeck  who  worshipped  according  to  the  profes 
sion  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Holland,  situated  on 
the  "  King's  Highway" — afterward  called  the  New  York  and 
Albany  Post  Road — "  neither  shall  any  person  sell  any  wines, 
rum,  brandy,  beer,  cider,  or  other  spirits,  nor  peddle,  trade,  nor 
carry  on  a  merchandise  upon  the  hereby  granted  premises," — a 
requirement  which  has  not  been  closely  adhered  to.  Under 
this  church  lie  the  rernains  of  Henry  Beekman,  the  donator  of 
the  land,  and  the  sacred  edifice  is  itself  a  monument  to  his 
memory. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  a  wooden  building.  The 
present  one  was  afterwards  built,  which  has  since  been  con 
siderably  remodeled.  Two  sides  are  constructed  of  stone,  and 
the  other  two  of  brick.  It  is  said  there  was  a  diversity  of 
sentiment  as  to  what  the  house  was  to  be  composed  of — one 


HISTORY  OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY.  399 

party  wanting  a  brick  and  the  other  a  stone  house.  To  effect 
a  compromise,  it  was  built  of  both  stone  and  brick. 

The  Baptist  Church  at  Rhinebeck  was  constituted  July  4th, 
1821.  On  the  Sabbath  previous,  ten  persons  were  baptized  by 
Elder  Freeman  Hopkins,  of  Northeast.  On  the  day  of  organ 
ization  four  were  baptized,  who,  with  the  other  ten,  and  five 
received  by  letter,  composed  the  church.  The  following  min 
isters  and  brethren  were  members  of  the  council : — Elders 
Hopkins  and  Buttolph,  and  brethren  Philo  M.  Winchell  and 
Nicholas  Vosburgh,  of  Northeast ;  and  Elder  Jesse  Hartwell, 
and  brethren  Jonathan  Smith,  Sylvester  and  Asahel  Doud,  of 
Sandisfield.  Robert  Scott,  one  of  the  constituent  members, 
was  ordained  at  the  same  time,  as  their  pastor.  He  continued 
to  preach,  in  addition  to  teaching  a  valuable  school  in  the 
village,  as  long  as  his  health  permitted.  Before  his  death, 
which  took  place  Sept.  24th,  1834,  at  the  age  of  74,  he  pre 
pared  an  address  to  be  read  at  his  funeral.  In  the  Spring  of 
1842  Isaac  Bevan  settled  in  this  village  as  a  missionary  in  the 
employ  of  the  County  Association,  and  became  pastor  of  the 
church. 

When  the  old  Dutch  Church  was  rebuilt,  a  low  wooden 
building  stood  there.  When  the  steeple  was  pulled  down,  the 
air  was  thick  with  bats.  Below  the  church,  where  the  mill  was 
recently  burned,  stood  the  old  grist  mill  put  up  by  Col.  Henry 
Beekman,  probably  the  first  in  the  town.  Near  the  stone 
bridge  was  formerly  a  toll-gate,  and  the  road  there  was  then 
known  as  the  Delaware  and  Ulster  Turnpike.  A  man  named 
Hagadorn  was  gate  keeper.  Dr.  Kiersted  lived  in  the  William 
Teller  house.  Where  Platt's  store  and  adjacent  buildings 
now  stand  was  an  apple  orchard.  Christian  Schell  built  the 
store,  and  his  heirs  sold  it  to  Wr.  B.  Platt.  Among  the  early 
settlers  were  Palatinates,  who  located  near  Monterey  or  "Park's 
Grocery." 

The  oldest  school  m  the  place,  in  the  recollection  cf  the 
present  inhabitants,  was  that  taught  by  Elder  Robert  Scott,  a 
Baptist,  from  England.  The  Algates,  afterward  prominent 


4OO  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

men  of  New  York,  were  among  his  pupils.  A  Miss  Jones 
taught  school  in  the  lecture  room  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Church,  during  the  ministry  of  Dominie  Hardenburgh.  Miss 
Jones  had  a  "flare-up"  with  the  latter  because  of  her  breaking 
an  engagement  with  him  to  teach  his  school. 

There  is  a  map  in  the  Starr  Institute,  drawn  1797,  which 
shows  three  Dutch  Reformed  Churches,  one  German  Referred, 
two  Lutheran,  and  one  Methodist  Church,  in  Rhinebeck, 
which  then  included  Red  Hook.  One  of  the  Dutch  Churches 
was  near  Tivoli ;  another  in  Upper  Red  Hook,  formed  1780; 
the  other  was  in  Rhinebeck  village.  Ther§  are  now  five 
Lutheran  Churches  within  these  limits.  There  are  also  two 
Methodist  Churches  and  three  Chapels,  against  one  in  1797  ; 
two  Baptist  Churches  and  four  Episcopal  Parishes  aga'nst 
none  in  1797. 

An  old  stone  house  on  lands  of  Mrs.  Huntington,  proba 
bly  the  oldest  in  the  village,  was  occupied  some  eighty  years 
ago  as  a  pest  house.  "  Crazy  Gin"  was  an  inmate  of  the 
town  poor  house,  and  was  quite  a  character  in  her  way.  In 
order  to  keep  her  within  bounds,  a  heavy  block  and  chain  were 
attached  to  her  ankle.  She  used  to  attend  church,  and  en 
gage  in  prayer  with  the  rest.  Her  petitions  were  always  of  a 
personal  nature ;  mentioning  each  individual  by  name,  she 
would  ask  that  good  or  evil  might  befall  them,  as  they  happened 
at  that  moment  to  have  her  good  or  her  ill-will.  Among  the 
other  relics  in  Rhinebeck  is  a  cradle,  over  two  hundred  years 
old,  in  which  several  generations  have  been  rocked  ;  also  a 
powder  horn,  likewise  supposed  to  be  over  200  years  old,  and 
which  was  used  at  the  battle  of  Ticonderoga. 

The  first  substantial  house 
built  in  the  town,  and  probably 
the  oldest  now  standing  within 
the  county,  is  the  Heermance 
House,  situated  about  a  mile 
Heermance  House.  from  Rhinebeck  Station.  The 

old  part  of  this  building  was  erected,  it  is  believed,  in  the  year 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  40! 

1700,  and  has  stood  therefore  more  than  one  and  three-fourths 
centuries.  It  has  port  holes  under  the  eaves,  it  having  been 
used  as  a  sort  of  fortress  in  early  times,  as  a  protection  against 
the  Indians.  On  a  stone  in  the  rear  of  the  house  is  the 
inscription — "  J.  &  A.  K.,  1700" — supposed  to  be  the  initials 
of  the  builders  and  the  date  of  erection.  As  before  stated, 
the  Kips  were  living  here,  and  had  some  sort  of  claim  to  the 
land,  before  Beekman  obtained  his  patent.  The  settlers  first 
built  log  houses,  eventually  putting  up  more  substantial  dwell 
ings,  as  occasion  offered.  The  Heermance  house  is  composed 
of  stone,  and  the  brick  for  the  chimneys  came  from  Holland. 
In  1703,  Beekman  acquired  a  title  to  the  land  bordering  the 
river  from  Staatsburgh  to  Red  Hook,*  which  of  course  included 
the  stone  house  just  mentioned.  In  this  house  resided  Col. 
Henry  Beekman,  and  afterward  his  son  Henry,  and  it  is  still 
occupied  by  descendants  of  the  Beekman  family.  It  is  usually 
spoken  of  in  history  as  the  "  Beekman  House."  The  first 
sermon  preached  in  this  town  was  before  a  congregation  assem 
bled  in  this  stone  dwelling. 

Another  house,  interesting  in  its  history,  stands  in  the  village 
of  Rhin-beck.  We  refer  to  the  Montgomery  House  distin 
guished  as  having  been  occupied 
by  Gen'l.  Richard  Montgomery 
and  his  wife  from  the  time  Of 
their  marriage  until  he  left  home 
to  join  the  expedition  against  Que- 
bee.  The  young  couple  were  living 
in  retirement  in  their  plain  but  comfortable  cottage  attending 
to  the  labors  of  their  farm.  The  house  then  stood  on  the 
"King's  Highway"  [the  post  road]  a  short  distance  north  of 
the  village ;  it  has  since  been  removed  a  short  distance  to  the 
eastward  of  its  original  location.  As  the  cottage  and  its 
surroundings  were  hardly  suited  to  their  tastes  and  feelings, 


*  This  pntent  is  thus  defined:  The  te-ritory  lying  at  a  p  int  opposite  Klein  Sopua 
ffly  [site  of  Sta.tsburffh],  thence  north  to  the  Schuyler  Patent  [now  Hod  Hook],  tlv  nee 
«;i«t  to  \Varankamick  I'mid,  five  miles  from  the  riv.r,  thence  t-outh  parallel  to  the  river, 
and  west  to  the  place  ot  beginning. 


402  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

they  looked  about  for  a  suitable  place  to  locate  and  build  up  an 
estate  more  in  keeping  with  their  aspirations.  They  finally- 
selected  a  tract  of  400  acres,  in  what  is  now  the  town  of  Red 
Hook,  the  same  on  which  the  widow  afterwaids  built  "  Mont 
gomery  Place." 

Undoubtedly  the  young  couple  held  many  an  interesting 
conference  in  relation  to  their  new  home,  and  looked  forward 
with  bright  hopes  to  the  time  when  their  plans  would  all  be 
perfected,  and  they  permitted  to  enjoy  their  earthly  paradise. 
But  an  overruling  Providence  ordained  that  their  companion 
ship  should  cease  ere  their  plans  had  been  fully  matured.  They 
were  living  in  this  little  cottage  when  the  tocsin  of  war  was 
sounded,  which  brought  our  Revolutionary  army  into  the  field. 
We  can  imagine  the  struggle  in  the  mind  of  Montgomery,  as 
he  weighed  the  love  and  companionship  of  his  accomplished 
wife  against  his  duty  to  his  country.  His  decision  was  soon 
formed ;  nor  did  any  sordid  self-interest  prompt  her  to  turn 
him  from  his  purpose.  He  might  fall  on  the  field  of  bloody 
strife  ;  yet  his  services  were  needed,  and  the  call  was  answered. 
Their  affairs  were  put  in  order,  and  the  young  general  left  for 
his  command.  She  accompanied  him  on  his  journey  as  far  as 
was  deems d  advisable,  and  at  the  house  of  a  friend  at 
Saratoga,  took  her  last  leave  of  him.  In  mid-winter,  before 
daylight,  in  the  midst  of  a  furious  snow  storm,  he  led  his  com 
mand  to  attack  the  Prescott  Gate,  at  the  foot  of  Cape 
Diamond.  The  vigilant  captain  of  Canadian  militia,  in 
command  of  a  masked  battery  at  that  point,  knew  of  the 
approach  of  the  Americans.  The  latter  were  gallantly  march 
ing  up,  ex  e:ting  to  take  it  by  surprise,  and  when  within  fifty 
yards  were  met  by  a  charge  of  grape,  which  swept  their 
column  with  terrible  effect.  General  Montgomery,  his  aid 
McPherson,  and  Captain  Cheeseman  were  instantly  killed. 
The  rest,  appalled  at  the  slaughter,  fled.  The  body  of 
Montgomery  was  found  in  the  snow  by  the  enemy  the  same 
day,  was  carried  into  the  city,  and  buried  within  the  walls  that 
surrounded  a  powder  magazine. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  403- 

Though  savoring  strongly  of  the  romantic,  this  chapter, 
would  be  incomplete  without  a  mention  of  Capt.  D'JIart's 
War-Horse.  Some  time  ago,  about  seventy-five  or  eighty 
years,  when  training  days  were  regularly  observed,  and  militia 
officers  were  strutting  about  in  their  gay  trappings,  full  pf 
martial  valor,  there  appeared  a  man  of  soldierly  bearing,  who 
was  familiarly  known  as  Capt.  D'Hart.  But  still  more  note 
worthy  was  his  war-horse,  a  dapple-gray,  of  warlike  spirit,  who 
would  have  made  his  mark  on  the  field  of  battle.  The  captain 
loved  his  horse  as  he  did  his  own  soul,  and  truly  he  was  a 
noble  steed ;  and  when  in  his  war  dress  he  pranced  and 
curvetted  about  the  parade  ground,  he  was  the  center  of 
admiration. 

As  the  animal  advanced  in  years,  the  fire  of  his  eye  grew 
dim ;  his  step  became  less  buoyant,  and  his  martial  spirit  was 
quenched.  At  last  he  laid  himself  down  and  died,  to  the  great 
grief  of  his  master.  Most  persons  would  have  merely  hitched 
a  rope  to  the  animal's  neck,  dragged  him  away  to  some  secluded 
hollow,  and  there  unceremoniously  put  him  out  of  their  sight  ; 
but  not  so  did  Captain  D'Hart.  He  shocked  the  community 
by  observing  that  horses  had  souls  as  well  as  anybody,  espec 
ially  if  they  were  good  horses.  He  further  declared  his 
defunct  war-steed  should  be  clothed  in  his  armor,  and  buried 
with  military  honors.  Great  preparations  were  made  for  the 
funeral  ceremony.  Two  or  three  companies  of  militia  assem 
bled,  full-plumed,  each  member  wearing  crape  around  his  left 
arm.  They  formed  on  each  side  of  the  vehicle  on  which 
reposed  the  body  of  the  horse,  and  the  procession  moved  for 
ward  to  the  sound  of  martial  music.  Capt.  D'Hart  followed 
behind,  in  the  capacity  of  chief  mourner. 

Arrived  at  the  place  of  interment,  the  military  surrounded 
the  grave,  and  as  the  horse  was  being  lowered  into  his  last 
resting  place,  the  band  played  the  "  Dead  March  in  Saul.'7 
A  deep  hole  had  been  dug.  into  which  the  animal  was  placed 
in  a  standing  position.  He  was  clad  in  all  the  gay  trappings  that 
\vare  wont  to  grace  his  form  in  the  days  of  his  strength. 


404  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Solemnly  the  earth  was  closed  over  him  ;  a  mound  was  raised 
over  the  spot,  and  covered  with  green  turf.  The  race-course 
was  after ,vard  located  near  his  grave  ;  and  it  is  often  surmised 
that  his  ghost  still  haunts  the  vicinity,  and  infuses  a  little  of 
his  old  mettle  into  the  equines  gathered  there.  At  an  exhibi 
tion  of  wax-works  in  the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  some  two  or 
three  years  since,  D' Hart's  war-horse  appeared  to  the  audi 
ence,  clad  in  his  armor  ;  and  so  life-like  did  he  seem,  that 
some  were  almost  ready  to  admit  he  had  really  broke  away 
from  the  grave,  and  was  present  to  their  senses. 

The  Starr  Institute,  already  referred  to,  is  an  elegant 
structure,  standing  in  the  village  of  Rhinebeck,  which  is  used 
as  a  public  library,  tree  reading  room,  and  for  other  kindred 
purposes.  For  this  noble  institution,  the  people  of  Rhinebeck 
are  largely  indebted  to  Mrs.  Mary  R.  Miller,  who  donated 
the  building,  and  contributed  a  large  proportion  of  the  books. 
'The  experiment  of  a  free  reading  room,  and  a  circulating 
library  at  a  small  subscription  price  was  first  tried  ;  and  the 
^success  of  the  effort  encouraged  the  erection  of  a  commodious 
.edifice.  April  i8th,  1862,  an  act  passed  the  Legislature 
incorporating  the  Starr  Institute  ;  and  on  the  24th  of  July 
folio  .ving,  Wm.  Kelly  was  elected  President,  Theophilus 
Gillender,  Sec.,  and  N.  W.  H.  Judson,  Treasurer  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees.  The  Starr  Institute  property  consists  of  real  and 
personal  property  connected  with  the  building.  The  lot  on 
which  it  stands  was  conveyed  by  Mrs.  Miller,  the  deed  bearing 
date  of  May  2oth,  1862.  The  property  was  purchased,  build 
ing  erected  and  furnished  at  a  cost  of  $15,000. 

Opposite  Rhinebeck  Station  is  the  old  Kingston  Landing, 
where  the  three  thousand  British  troops  went  ashore.  That 
port  was  the  port  of  Kingston  until  within  a  few  years,  and  the 
New  York  and  Albany  boats  used  to  stop  there ;  but  the 
thriving  village  at  the  mouth  of  Rondout  Creek  caused  it  to 
t>e  abandoned.  In  1614  the  Dutch  traders  built  a  redoubt  at 
Rondout  [corruption  of  redoubt]  Creek.  Kingston  was  first 
-called  Wiltwyck,  or  Wild  Indian  Town,  and  its  inhabitants 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY,  405 

were  dispersed  by  the  Indians.  Another  settlement  soon 
followed,  but  the  natives  soon  drove  them  off.  In  1660  a 
treaty  of  peace  was  concluded  which  promised  quiet  to  the 
settlers.  But  the  wrath  of  the  Indians  was  soon  kindled 
against  one  Mr.  Stuyvesant,  who  had  sold  some  of  their  num 
ber  as  slaves,  and  war  broke  out  about  three  years  afterward. 
Some  of  the  red  men  came  into  the  fort,  in  June,  1663,. 
ostensibly  to  trade.  At  a  concerted  signal  they  fell  upon  the 
white  people,  murdered  eighteen  of  them,  and  carried  away 
forty-two  captives.  The  out  settlements  were  all  destroyed.  A 
destructive  war  ensued,  and  the  Indians  were  expelled  from 
the  fort.  Nine  days  afterward  a  reinforcement  came  from 
New  Amsterdam,  when  the  savages  were  pursued  and  almost 
exterminated.  In  the  Autumn  they  returned  all  the  captives 
but  one,  and  sued  for  peace. 

Isaac  F.  Russell,  the  venerable  postmaster  at  Rhinebeck 
Station,  related  some  facts  connected  with  the  early  settlers  of 
this  vicinity.  His  father,  Isaac  Russell,  was  from  Sherborne, 
Mass.,  and  was  a  Lieutenant  in  the  Revolutionary  army.  His 
captain  w^s  killed  at  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  when  Russell  was 
promoted  to  that  office.  One  Ames  was  a  captain  of  the 
Athol  company,  and  a  friendship  sprung  up  between  the  two- 
young  officers,  that  lasted  through  life.  They  were  employee! 
to  assist  in  guarding  Burgoyne's  captive  troops  when  they  were 
marched  through  our  County  to  Fishkill.  They  stopped  and 
encamped  one  night  in  the  vicinity  of  Staatsburgh,  and  were 
so  charmed  with  the  country  that  they  mutually  agreed  if  their 
lives  were  spared,  they  would  locate  there  after  the  war  was 
over.  This  they  afterwards  did,  taking  up  some  of  the  most 
desirable  land  in  that  quarter.  Russell  also  took  an  active 
part  in  the  suppression  of  Shay's  rebellion,  and  used  to  relate 
many  entertaining  incidents  connected  with  that  event. 

Our  informant  said  the  first  meeting  he  ever  attended  was 
held  in  the  Lamoree  house,  near  Staatsburgh.  An  itinerant 
M.  E.  Minister  preached  there.  He.  while  a  mere  lad,  went 
in  company  with  Morgan  Lewis,  to  the  soldiers'  encampment 


405  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

at  Greeribush,  during  the  war  of  1812.  Lewis  was  Commissary 
General  of  the  troops  quartered  there.  Russell  was  a  member 
of  the  Ibard  of  Supervisors  cotemporaneous  with  J.  M. 
Ketcham,  of  Dover,  James  Duane  Livingston,  of  Hyde  Park, 
Henry  A.  Livingston,  of  Poughkeepsie,  and  Daniel  Toffey  of 
Pawling. 


The  Vi.iase  Smithy. 


STANFORD. 


POPULATION,  2,209. — SQUARE  ACRES,  31,581, 


TANFORD  was  formed  from  Washington,  March   i2th, 
^    1793.     This    town    was   included   in    the    Great    Nine 

Partners  Tract.    Its  surface  is  a  broken  and  hilly  upland. 

The  hills  generally  admit  of  being  cultivated  to  their 
summits.  Slate  crops  out  in  numerous  places  along  their 
declivities,  and  boulders  and  water-worn  pebbles  are  thickly 
strewn  over  a  considerable  portion  of  the  surface.  Hunns 
and  Uptons  Lakes,  are  the  principal  bodies  of  water.  Wappin- 
gers  Creek  is  the  principal  stream.  The  soil  is  a  good  quality 
of  gravelly  and  slaty  loam.  Stanfordville,  Bangall,  Stissing- 
ville,  and  Attlebury  are  hamlets.  An  immense  spring  of  pure 
cold  water  near  the  latter  place  has  considerable  local 
notoriety.  Smith  Thompson,  U.  S.  Circuit  Judge,  was  a 
native  and  resident  of  this  town. 

Bangall  is  a  station  on  the  line  of  the  Duchess  and  Colum 
bia  Railroad.  It  has  several  stores  and  factories,  post-office, 
flour,  feed,  and  saw  mills  ;  also  three  neat  and  comfortable 
churches.  Ih?  origin  of  its  name  is  thus  given  ;  A  Yankee 
pedlar  was  traveling  through  here  in  the  prosecution  of  his 

407 


408  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

business.  His  goods  consisted  of  a  stock  of  tin  ware,  which 
he  carried  about  the  country  in  a  rickety  cart,  drawn  by  a 
superannuated  horse.  This  vicinity  was  at  that  time  noted 
for  its  roystering  lads,  whose  mad-cap  pranks  kept  the  com 
munity  in  a  continual  uproar.  Our  pedlar  unfortunately  fell 
into  their  hands.  After  tantalizing  him  to  their  hearts'  content 
they  ended  by  knocking  the  poor  old  horse  in  the  head,  leaving 
the  animal  dead  in  the  road.  The  pedlar  was  now  in  a 
dilemma.  His  horse  was  dead ;  he  was  far  from  home,  with  no 
means  to  buy  another.  He  contemplated  the  fallen  beast  a 
moment,  and  then  broke  out  in  a  Yankee  phrase  "  That  bangs 
all !"  From  that  expression  the  place  is  named.  We  may  add 
that  the  mischievous  fellows  who  killed  his  faithful  animal,  and 
who  were  connected  with  the  best  families  of  the  vicinity, 
made  amends  to  the  poor  pedlar  by  presenting  him  with 
another  horse,  and  a  much  better  one  than  he  had  before. 

Bare  Market — incorrectly  spelled  Bear  Market  on  some  of 
the  maps,  is  a  cluster  of  houses  located  near  the  west  borders 
of  the  town.  The  name  was  given  it  from  the  following 
circumstance :  An  old  gentleman  formerly  kept  a  grocery 
here,  and  also  disposed  of  considerable  liquor.  One  night  a 
company  assembled  at  his  place  of  business,  drinking  and 
carousing,  and  prolonged  their  stay  until  a  very  late  hour. 
They  imbibed  SD  freely  that  they  drank  up  all  the  liquor  the  old 
man  had;  but  not  yet  satisfied,  they  besought  him  to  go  off 
and  get  some  more.  This  he  told  them  he  could  not  do,  as  he 
was  very  lame,  and  unable  to  travel.  This  was  to  them  a  sore 
disappointment,  thus  to  have  their  joy  nipped  off  without 
warning.  They  therefore  named  the  place  "  Bare  Market," 
the  place  was  "bare"  of  liquor — a  cognomen  which  it  has 
retained  to  this  day.  As  the  history  of  the  First  Baptist 
church  of  this  town  dates  back  to  a  very  early  period,  we  may 
as  well  give  it  a  notice  here. 

In  1755,  a  few  Baptist  brethren,  who  were  settled  in  this 
wilderness,  thought  it  needful  to  meet  together.  Others  joined 
them;  and  in  October,  1759,  a  church  was  constituted  by 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  409 

Elder  Jabez  Wood  and  Robert  Wheaton,  of  "  Swansea,  County 
of  Bristol,  Massachusetts  Bay."  Ephraim  and  Comer  Bullock 
were  chosen  to  administer  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel  to 
them,  and  Richard  Bullock,  Jr.,  was  elected  deacon.  There  is 
no  further  record  of  them  until  1770-2,  when  we  read  on  the 
church- minutes  :  "  Just  at  this  time  we  were  informed  that  our 
mother  church  sang  by  rule,  and  used  Watts'  Hymns,  and  we 
labored  with  them  some  time  to  forbear  ;  but  they  continued, 
and  we  withdrew  ourselves  from  them.  Then  sometime  after 
that  some  of  us  grew  uneasy,  because  we  had  broken  union 
with  them  about  singing,  viz  :  Richard  and  Ellis  Bullock  ;  and 
some  time  after,  Elder  Comer  Bullock  grew  so  much  uneasy, 
that  we  thought  it  our  duty  to  make  our  recantation  to  that 
church  for  what  we  had  done,  believing  that  the  psalm,  or 
tune,  was  not  a  sufficient  thing  to  break  union  upon.  Some  of 
the  brethren  made  a  request  that  they  might  sing  Watts' 
Psalms,  and  were  denied  altogether."  Twenty-four  of  the 
brethren  dissented  from  the  church  and  did  not  meet  with 
them  for  some  time.  In  1778,  another  organization  was 
effected  of  those  "willing  to  walk  together  in  the  order  of  the 
Gospel,  with  singing  of  psalms  and  hymns  as  a  part  of  Divine 
worship,"  with  Comer  Bullock  as  pastor.  He  continued  to 
preach  for  them  until  his  health  failed,  and  is  said  to  have 
baptized  over  one  thousand  persons  during  his  ministry.  Elder 
Luman  Burtch  became  pastor  in  1806,  continuing  with  them 
about  fifteen  years  ;  then,  after  an  absence  of  about  four 
years,  returned,  and  again  preached  to  them. 

April  ist,  1780,  the  church  being  together  at  the  house  of 
Comer  Bullock,  were  called  upon  to  confer  in  respect  to 
things  special,  when  two  of  the  brethren  said  they  had  made  a 
new  discovery,  viz  :  "  That  there  should  be  an  equality  in  the 
church  m  the  payment  of  taxes." 

The  following  is  from  the  records:  "April  28th,  the  church 
being  assembled  at  the  hou^e  of  the  pastor,  one  of  the  breth 
ren  gave  his  new  discovery  of  duty,  which  he  proposed  to  carry 
out  the  more  easily  by  the  following  method  :  "  To  plow, 


41 0  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

plant,  and  hoe  the  Elder's  corn,  mow  and  secure  his  hay ;  plow 
and  prepare  the  fallow  ground  for  sowing  wheat  for  him,  judg 
ing  it  most  convenient  for  us,  in  our  low  circumstances,  to 
redeem  what  time  we  can  in  order  that  the  Elder  might  dedi 
cate  to  the  Lord  all  such  redeemed  time  in  work  pertaining  to 
his  ministerial  functions." 

"  At  the  request  of  brethren  at  Dover,  and  places  adjacent, 
Elder  Bullock  and  the  messengers  of  the  church  visited  those 
quarters,  and  preached  the  Gospel  there,  baptizing  both  men 
and  women."  September  29th,  1787,  there  was  an  invitation 
.sent  to  the  church  from  the  neighborhood  of  Mabbettsville,  for 
the  Elder  to  come  and  administer  the  ordinance  of  baptism. 
He  went  and  baptized  nearly  forty,  and  the  following  year  they 
were  constituted  a  branch  of  his  church  A  branch  at  Kindtr- 
hook,  another  at  Noble  Town,  and  still  another  "  near  Jacob 
Lawrence's,"  are  spoken  of  in  the  records.  "  Deacon  Canneld 
expressed  a  dissatisfaction  that  the  church  consisted  of  so 
many  branches  that  the  mother  church  was  destitute  of  preach 
ing  the  greater  part  of  the  time."  In  June,  1790,  the  people 
at  Hudson  sent  a  messenger  to  the  church,  asking  them  to 
send  their  Elder  to  administer  the  ordinance  of  baptism. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  amount  of  pastoral  and  ministe 
rial  work  performed  by  Elder  Bullock  in  those  primitive  days, 
no  record  can  be  found  of  his  ever  having  received  even  so 
much  as  a  penny  by  way  of  salary.  He  did,  on  one  occasion, 
receive  a  contribution,  and  for  so  doing  he  was  called  an 
hireling  ;  whereupon  the  church  very  promptly  voted  that  he 
had  a  perfect  right  to  receive  any  gift  the  people  were  disposed 
to  make  him. 

O  i  the  2Sth  of  Au^-ist,  1790,  the  church  voted  that  the 
Elder  and  a  licentiate  should  attend  meeting  at  Oswego  at  the 
house  of  Bro.  Fowler,  once  erery  month  for  twelve  months. 
Soon  afterward,  the  church  voted  that  the  Elder  should  preach 
for  them  three  Sabbaths  in  each  month  for  one  year  ;  the 
fourth  Sabbath  at  the  village  and  at  the  branch  east  of 
Mabbettsville  ;  and  when  there  were  five  Sabbaths,  he  might  go 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  411 

-wherever  he  thought  best.  In  1798,  a  messenger  presented  a 
request  from  some  candidates  in  Rhinebeck,  wishing  baptism, 
and  asking  the  churcn  to  send  an  administrator.  Accordingly, 
May*i9th,  Elders  Bullock  and  Hopkins,  and  Deacon  Canfield, 
met  at  the  house  of  Robert  Scott,  at  Rhinebeck  Flats,  and 
heard  the  experience  of  four  candidates.  On  the  following 
Sunday  Elder  Hopkins  preached  and  afterwards  baptized  them. 

In  1799,  a  proposition  was  made  to  have  a  stove  in  the 
meeting  house,  which  was  voted  down.  It  appears  from  the 
records  that  nearly  all  the  meetings  were  held  at  the  pastor's 
house,  especially  in  cold  weather.  The  dwelling  house  then 
owned  by  the  Elder,  and  for  many  years  the  rallying  point  of 
the  Baptists  in  this  section  of  the  country,  is  still  standing  we 
believe,  having  at  a  recent  period  been  rebuilt,  and  is  located 
about  three  miles  north  of  the  present  church  edifice. 

The  last  record  of  Elder  Bullock  is  that  he  presided  at  a 
church  meeting  held  in  his  own  house,  Feb,  29th,  1804.  Two 
years  previous,  the  church  had  called  Elder  Hopkins  to 
preich  for  them  one  half  of  the  time  for  three  months,  and 
voted  to  give  him  twenty  shillings  a  Sabbath.  Elders  Petit 
and  Arnold  are  spoken  of  as  supplies.  Such  is  the  history,  for 
the  first  fifty  years,  of  the  early  gathering  of  the  Baptists  in 
this  town,  while  it  was  yet  a  wilderness.  Up  to  this  time  they 
had  established  branches  at  eight  different  places,  viz  :  Kinder- 
hook,  Oswego,  Noble  Town,  Dover,  the  branch  east  of 
Mabbettsville,  known  as  Daniel  Jones's,  \Vest  Branch,  South 
west  Branch,  and  Rhinebeck. 

June  1 4th,  1806,  a  Baptist  Council  was  convened,  consist 
ing  of  Elders  Leland,  Wood,  and  Johnson.  The  day  follow 
ing  they  ordained  Brother  Luman  Buitch.  Among  the  first 
that  the  latter  baptized  were  Samuel  Sackett  and  Asa  Thomp 
son.  Anew  house  was  raised  in  July,  1814;  in  August  the 
following  year,  the  church  first  met  in  this  house,  which  is 
locate  I  about  one  fourth  mile  south  of  the  first.  The  following 
Elders  are  men'iined  as  having  been  pastors  over  this  church: 
D^ty,  D  ivid  Fradeaburg'i,  Elijah  LUCAS,  J.  Holman,  and  E. 
C.  Ambler. 


412  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

The  secoid  house  of  worship  was  occupied  about  fifty 
years.  In  this  house  the  first  session  of  the  Duchess  Baptist 
Association  was  held  in  1835,  October  14  and  15,  Rev.  T. 
Winter,  Moderator.  In  the  fall  of  1867,  a  survey  was  made 
for  the  Duchess  &  Columbia  Railroad,  which  passed  through 
the  pulpit,  so  that  the  house,  had  to  be  removed  a  little  more 
than  the  width  of  it  to  give  way  for  work  on  the  road.  In 
December,  the  agents  offered  $1650  for  the  church  building, 
which  was  accepted,  and  the  present  house  built. 

A  Q  laker  Church  was  built  at  Stanfordville  about  the  year 
1800.  It  was  sold  a  few  years  since,  and  is  now  occupied  as 
a  public  hall,  with  apartments  for  families  below.  As  the 
church  was  erected  before  the  separation  of  that  sect,  both  the 
Hicksite  and  Orthodox  divisions  received  their  proportionate 


I'.uil  Upton  s  jiousc. 

share  of  the  purchase  money,  and  both  gave  their  deed  for  the 
property. 

O.i  what  is  loyally  known  as  Bingall  Lane,  between 
Bngall  and  Stanfordville,  a  large  Biblical  School  has  been 
established,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Christian  denomination.. 
David  Clark,  of  Conn.,  was  one  of  the  principal  movers  in  its 
establishment,  and  contributed  $35,000  to  found  it. 

One  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  vicinity  was  Paul  Uptcn,, 
an  emigrant  from  Lynn,  Mass.  He  located  in  the  beautiful 
valley  on  the  borders  of  the  romantic  lake  wrr'ch  bears  his 
name.  The  annexed  is  a  reprepentation  of  his  residence, 
which  is  still  standing.  A  large  addition  has  been  since  built,, 
but  that  is  not  shown  The  house  had  originally  a  large  chim- 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  413 

iiey,  with  three  fire-places  below,  and  one  on  the  second  floor. 
Paul  Upton  was  a  Quaker;  as  he  lived  near  the  meetinghouse, 
his  house  was  usually  thronged  at  the  time  of  the  Quarterly 
Meetings  ;  as  many  as  forty  people  have  been  entertained  at 
one  time  over  night  in  this  little  dwelling. 

Paul  Upton  and  his  wife  once  attended  a  yearly  meeting 
on  Long  Island.  This  was  in  the  time  of  the  Revolution, 
when  the  British  had  possession  of  that  part  of  the  country. 
They  rode  the  whole  distance  on  horseback,  much  of  the  way 
through  an  almost  unbroken  wilderness.  Arriving  at  their  des 
tination,  they  put  up  at  the  house  of  a  friend.  One  morning, 
after  the  close  of  the  meeting,  their  horses  were  brought  up  to 
the  door,  and  while  they  were  engaged  in  leave-taking,  a  Brit 
ish  officer  stepped  up,  took  the  horses  by  the  bridle,  saying,  as 
he  did  so,  that  he  had  use  for  them.  The  honest  old  Quaker 
eyed  the  officer  for  a  moment,  and  then  addressed  him  in 
measured  terms  :  "  Friend,  would  thee  consider  what  thee  is 
doing  ?  We  are  far  from  home  ;  my  wife  is  unable  to  walk  that 
distance  ;  neither  can  I  in  my  enfeebled  state  ;  if  thee  takes 
our  horses,  we  shall  have  no  means  to  get  back."  And  thus 
the  old  gentleman  plead  with  him,  until  the  heart  of  the  officer 
relented.  Letting  go  the  bridles,  he  bade  the  honest  Quaker 
and  his  wife  depart  in  peace,  and  went  on  his  way,  followed  by 
their  benedictions. 

Paul  had  a  son  born  to  him  about  the  time  the  British 
ship  "Asia"  left  New  York  and  anchored  in  tiie  lower  Hudson. 
This  vessel  was  regarded  with  dread  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
river  country,  and  was  the  object  of  a  bitter  hatred.  Paul 
christened  the  child  Asa  ;  which  sounded  so  much  like  the  name 
of  the  hated  vessel,  that  many  Whigs  living  in  the  vicinity, 
who  were  generally  unlettered,  but  who  were  excessively  jeal 
ous  of  any  semblance  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  thought  the  boy 
was  named  in  honor  of  the  vessel.  This  smacked  too  much 
of  Toryism ;  and  a  committee  was  forthwith  appointed  to 
enquire  into  the  matter.  The  good  old  Quaker  had  little  diffi 
culty  in  explaining  to  them  that  "Asa"  and  "  Asia"  were  two 


414  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

distinct  appellatives,  and  they  departed  evidently  satisfied^. 
Paul  was  by  trade  a  tanner.  The  farmers  used  to  carry- 
hides  to  him  to  be  made  into  leather.  On  one  of  his  tours  ta 
Long  Island,  he  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  enemy.  He  stated 
his  case  to  the  officers  in  charge,  depicting  the  loss  that  would' 
be  incurred  were  he  to  be  retained.  Said  he  "  I  am  a  tanner 
by  trade.  I  now  have  in  my  vats  thousands  of  dollars'  worth 
of  hides.  If  I  am  not  allowed  to  care  for  them,  they  will  all 
be  damaged.  Many  of  my  customers  are  friends  to  the  King  ;; 
they  will  suffer  if  I  am  kept  here."  The  officer  inquired  about 
the  length  of  time  that  would  be  necessary  to  secure  the  hides. 
'  About  three  months,"  was  the  answer.  The  officer  thought  a 
moment,  and  then  said  :  "  We  will  let  you  return  home  on  con 
dition  that  you  will  give  us  your  word  of  honor  that  in  three- 
months  from  this  day  and  date  you  will  report  yourself  at 
Kingston."  The  Quaker  gave  his  word,  and  was  suffered  to 
depart.  The  time  expired  just  after  the  British  had  left  Kings 
ton,  after  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  at  Saratoga.  True  to  his 
word,  Upton  presented  himself  at  Kingston  on  the  day 
appointed,  but  as  there  was  no  British  officer  to  take  charge  of 
him,  he  returned  home. 

Near  where  is  now  located  Willow  Brook  Station,  on  the 
Poughkeepsie  and  Eastern  Railroad,  there  stood  in  Revolu 
tionary  times,  a  tavern.  A  number  of  noisy  fellows  had 
gathered  there  one  day,  who  were  carousing  finely.  At  last  it 
was  arranged  that  each  one  should  in  turn  sing  a  song.  One 
of  the  revelers  was  named  Marvin.  When  it  came  his  turn 
to  sing,  he  gave  them  a  Tory  song.  This  put  a  sudden  stop 
to  the  proceedings  ;  and  so  full  were  the  rest  of  bad  continen 
tal  rum,  that  they  did  not  stop  to  consider  the  consequences^, 
but  all  fell  upon  the  poor  fellow,  and  killed  him.  After  he- 
was  dead,  one  of  the  'men  by  the  name  of  Obey  Smith  took 
the  body  upon  his  shoulder,  put  it  into  Marvin's  sleigh,  and" 
started  the  horses  for  home,  with  no  one  in  it  but  their  dead 
driver,  where  they  arrived  soon  after.  Obey  Smith  used  to- 
go  about  with  his  head  drawn  to  one  side.  It  was  currently 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  415 

reported  that  the  deformity  was  caused  by  his  carrying  the 
dead  body  of  Marvin  upon  his  shoulder. . 

A  man  once  lived  in  this  town — name  withheld — who 
made  a  wager  with  a  colored  man  living  with  him,  betting  a, 
bay  mare  against  the  negro's  wages.  The  negro  won,  and 
mounting  his  property,  rode  gaily  away.  His  employer  was 
greatly  chagrined  at  being  thus  fairly  beaten,  and  out  of 
revenge  had  the  darkey  arrested  for  theft.  As  the  latter  could 
furnish  no  proof,  except  his  own  word,  of  the  manner  in  which 
he  came  in  possession  of  the  mare,  he  was  adjudged  guilty  of 
the  crime  of  which  he  was  accused,  sentenced  to  be  hung,  and 
was  afterwards  executed.  His  employer  was  present  at  the 
execution.  Just  before  the  noose  was  placed  about  his  neck, 
the  negro  made  some  remarks,  a  part  of  which  were  addressed 
to  his  accuser.  "  You  know,  very  well,"  said  he,  "  that  the 
mare  was  mine,  and  that  I  came  honestly  by  her,  and  you  will 
stand  there  and  see  me  hung,  innocent  of  what  I  am  accused. 
May  God  forgive  you,  as  I  do,  of  the  crime  of  willful  murder 
which  will  rest  upon  your  soul. 

Esq.  Sam.  Arnold  was  anciently  a  noted  magistrate. 
During  his  term  of  office  a  law  was  passed  making  it  a 
finable  offence  to  allow  a  dog  to  run  loose  without  a  ring 
about  his  neck  bearing  the  name  of  his  owner.  As  one  half  of 
the  fine  went  to  the  informer,  a  man  named  Quick  thought  this 
would  be  a  favorable  opportunity  to  make  a  little  money.  He 
lived  near  one  John  Bailey,  for  whom  he  worked  ;  and  taking 
the  names  of  all  those  who  had  not  complied  with  the  law,  he 
appeared  before  the  magistrate  with  a  goodly  list.  That 
functionary  promptly  commanded  the  delinquents  to  appear 
before  him  on  a  certain  day  and  answer  to  the  charge.  In  the 
meantime  the  accused  had  made  common  cause  against  their 

O 

informer,  and  had  arranged  to  retaliate  upon  him  for  meddling 
with  their  affairs.  They  caused  a  heavy  iron  collar  to  be 
forged,  which  was  to  be  secured  by  a  rivet,  on  which  were  the 
words  :  "  I  am  John  Bailey's  dog,  whose  dog  are  you?"  This 
they  designed  placing  around  the  neck  of  Quick. 


41 6  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

One  night  they  surrounded  Quick's  house,  and  were  about 
effecting  an  entrance,  when  one  of  them  looking  through  the 
key  hole  caught  sight  of  him  just  as  he  was  going  up  stairs. 
He  called  out  "  Here  he  is,"  and  everybody  rushed  for  the 
front  door.  This  afforded  a  chance  of  escape  for  poor  Quick, 
who  jumped  from  a  rear  chamber  window,  and  was  lost  to 
view  in  the  gloom  of  the  adjacent  wood.  He  fled  the  country, 
and  never  afterward  showed  himself  in  the  neighborhood.  The 
collar  is  yet  in  existence,  having  done  duty  different  from  that 
for  which  it  was  made. 

Once  a  band  of  Tories  had  secreted  themselves  in  a  dense 
swamp,  in  this  vicinity,  where  they  were  supplied  with  provi 
sions  by  their  wives  and  sweethearts,  who  went  there  for  that 
purpose  at  night.  A  report  having  spread  that  the  British  had 
recently  met  with  a  brilliant  victory,  and  were  penetrating  the 
county  in  the  neighborhood  of  Fishkill,  the  Tory  band  boldly 
sallied  forth  to  meet  them.  When  near  Salt  Point,  they  were 
informed  that  the  report  was  false  ;  whereupon  they  made  all 
haste  for  the  swamp,  before  they  could  be  intercepted. 

The  writer  was  informed  that  when  the  Stone  Church  at 
Clinton  Corners  was  being  built,  about  forty  men  were  engaged 
upon  it.  During  an  alarm,  these  men  were  called  upon  to 
assist  in  repelling  the  invaders,  but  they  all  fled  to  the  neigh 
boring  woods  except  an  old  man,  who  boldly  kept  at  work,  and 
who  was  pressed  into  the  service.  Tradition  says  that  a  num 
ber  of  muskets  were  thrown  into  the  body  of  water  known  as 
the  Pond  Gut  in  the  Revolution,  by  some  Tories  who  were 
endeavoring  to  escape  pursuit ;  in  proof  of  the  truth  of  this 
it  is  asserted  that  but  a  few  years  since  one  or  two  muskets,  of 
ancient  pattern,  were  found  in  it. 


UNION  YALE. 


POPULATION,  1,434- SQUARE  ACRES,  14,876, 


ODNION  VALE  was  formed  from  Beekman  and  "  Frce- 
doin"  (now  LaGrange)  March  ist,  1827.  Its  surface  is 
a  n^ly  anc^  Broken  upland,  divided  into  two  parts  by  a 
broad  valley,  which  extends  north  and  south  through 
the  centre.  The  Clove  Kil,  a  tributary  of  the  Fishkill,  flows 
southwest  through  the  town.  Slate  crops  out  upon  the  sum 
mits  and  declivities  of  the  hills.  The  soil  is  a  gravelly  and 
slaty  loam.  An  extensive  iron  mine  near  the  Clove  post-office 
supplies  the  Beekman  Furnace,  two  miles  farther  south.  Hen- 
ricus  Beekman,  the  patentee,  conveyed  1,000  acres  in  this 
vicinity  to  his  son  Henry,  in  1716,  and  settlement  is  supposed 
to  have  commenced  soon  after.  Verbank,  Oswego  Village, 
Clove,  Crouse  Store,  Mansfield,  and  Pleasant  Ridge,  are  ham 
lets. 

Families  by  the  name  of  Potter,  Livingston,  Hall,  Emigh, 
Wilkinson,  Cline,  Able,  Reed,  Morey,  and  Uhl,  settled  in 
Union  Vale  at  an  early  period.  James  Skidmore,  Adam  and 
Daniel  Crouse,  and  John  Mosher  moved  in  at  an  early  date. 
Half  a  century  ago,  a  union  meeting  house  stood  on  the  road 


41 8  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

leading  from  Union  Vale  to  Beekmanville,  near  the  location  of 
the  old  union  burying  ground,  which  was  probably  the  first 
church  built  in  this  immediate  vicinity.  It  was  a  plain,  old- 
fashioned  structure,  of  medium  size,  with  no  gallery. 

The  Christian  denomination  is  quite  numerous  and  influen 
tial  in  this  town.  A  neat  and  commodious  house  of  worship 
has  been  recently  built.  They  formerly  worshiped  in  an  old 
church  under  the  mountain,  which  was  torn  down  when  the 
present  one  was  erected.  Albert  Hall  and  Joseph  M.  Cutler 
contributed  largely  towards  its  erection.  Near  this  church  is 
a  beautiful  rural  cemetery.  There  are  several  fine  monu 
ments,  and  a  family  vault  upon  the  grounds.  It  is  elegantly 
laid  out  ;  a  miniature  artificial  lake  is  enclosed  within  its 
limits ;  all  of  which  adds  to  the  natural  beauties  of  the  loca 
tion.  The  monument  of  Albert  Hall  is  apiece  of  fine  mechan 
ism,  the  design  of  which  is  one  of  his  own  selection.  Another 
monument  will  be  erected  to  the  memory  of  Joseph  M.  Cutler 
at  a  cost  of  $2600.  Cutler  was  largely  interested  in  the  min 
ing  interests  of  the  town,  in  which  he  acquired  great  wealth. 

James  Skidmore  was  an  early  settler,  who  built  the  mill  and 
old  house  near  Grouse  Store.  He  owned  a  large  tract  of  land 

in  the  vicinity.     The  mill  is  one 
of  the  oldest  in  the  town. 

On  Pleasant  Ridge  is  an  old 
dwelling  with  its  siding  composed 
of  shingles,  built  by  Nicholas 

"oui  skia more* Mm.  Baker.     It  is  somewhat  remarka 

ble  from  the  fact  that  all  the  nails  used  in  its  construction  were 
made  by  himself,  on  the  anvil.  He  was  a  blacksmith,  and  made 
the  nails  during  the  evenings,  after  the  regular  work  of  the  day 
was  over.  He  was  also  a  merchant ;  the  building  he  used  for 
a  store  is  still  standing  we  believe.  It  was  his  custom,  when 
about  to  take  a  trip  to  New  York  for  goods — which  he  only 
undertook  once  or  twice  a  year — to  prepare  his  bed,  and  a  stock 
of  provisions  to  last  several  days,  which  he  had  to  take  with 
him,  as  the  sloop  did  not  board  passengers  in  those  days.  After 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  419 

a  deal  of  preparation,  he  would  be  conveyed  to  Poughkeepsie, 
take  his  bed  and  provisions  on  board  the  sloop,  and  then  was 
often  forced  to  submit  to  a  long  and  tedious  passage.  Several 
days  would  elapse  before  he  would  again  set  foot  in  Pough- 
keepsie,  and  then  all  the  goods  were  conveyed  in  wagons  over 
the  rough  roads  to  the  top  of  Simpson  Hill. 

Another  character  who  flourished  in  these  parts  was  Caleb 
Simpson,  after  whom  the  hill  is  named.  He  came  in  here, 
and,  much  to  the  regret  of  the  people,  started  a  low  groggery. 
Some  of  the  leading  men  of  the  neighborhood  went  to  him  and 
besought  him  not  to  sell  any  liquor,  'but  to  no  avail.  To 
Nicholas  Baker,  who  was  more  earnest  in  his  appeals  than  the 
rest,  he  said,  "  I  shall  yet  live  to  sell  liquor  in  your  house." 
Years  passed  away.  Simpson  was  finally  reduced  to  poveity, 
and  went  away,  and  a  few  years  afterward  died  a  pauper.  He 
was  brought  back  and  buried  in  a  little  graveyard,  which  may 
still  be  seen,  on  Simpson  Hill.  The  funeral  procession  passed 
the  house  of  Baker,  who,  happening  to  be  looking  out  of  the 
window  at  the  moment,  inquired  who  was  dead.  On  being 
told  it  was  his  old  neighbor,  Caleb  Simpson,  he  recalled  the 
remark  made  by  the  latter  years  before,  and  said  "  he  guessed 
Old  Simpson  would  not  be  able  to  fulfill  his  threat  to  sell 
liquor  in  his  house  quite  yet." 

Years  ago,  some  parties  from  Connecticut  were  in  this 
vicinity  searching  after  tidings  of  a  pedlar.  He  had  not 
returned  home  at  the  usual  time,  after  making  a  trip,  and  his 
friends,  becoming  alarmed,  started  to  look  for  him.  They,  by 
diligent  inquiry  along  the  road,  tracked  him  all  the  way  to 
Simpson's,  and  there  they  lost  all  trace  of  him.  He  was  seen 
to  go  there,  but  was  never  seen  to  go  away.  Some  time  after 
wards,  his  wagon  was  found  in  the  woods,  about  a  mile  from 
Simpson's,  and  which  was  completely  rifled  of  its  contents. 
Sufficient  proof  could  not  be  obtained  to  convict  any  one  of 
the  crime,  though  certain  parties  were  strongly  suspicioned. 

Some  years  since,  a  man  by  the  name  of  Lee,  we  believe, 
was  suddenly  missing  from  this  vicinity.  Some  supposed  he 


420  HISTORY    OF     DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

had  gone  into  other  parts  without  mentioning  the  matter  to 
any  one ;  but  others  thought  his  sudden  disappearance  very 
strange.  Some  time  afterwards,  as  one  Henry  Harrington 
was  upon  his  death  bed,  and  almost  with  his  last  breath,  under 
took  to  make  a  confession  of  a  murder.  He  expired  before 
all  the  details  had  been  disclosed ;  but  sufficient  information 
was  gathered  to  establish  the  fact  that  about  the  time  of  the 
disappearance  of  Lee,  Harrington,  in  company  with  another 
man,  were  each  driving  a  mule  team  between  Beekman 
Furnace  and  Poughkeepsie  ;  that  they  weie  reiurning  from 
one  of  their  trips  by  the  upper  road,  passing  by  Grouse  Store  ; 
that  on  their  way  the  said  Lee  got  in  to  ride  with  them,  and 
they,  being  full  of  liquor,  killed  him  for  his  money.  They 
procured  a  shoe-box  at  the  store,  put  the  dead  man  into  it, 
and  hid  it  away  in  what  is  still  known  as  the  Factory  Woods, 
just  in  the  edge  of  Union  Vale,  above  the  fjrnace  pond. 
Harrington's  companion  soon  fled  the  country,  and  he  kept 
the  secret  to  himself  until  he  was  induced,  at  the  very  thresh- 
holcl  of  eternity,  to  divulge  the  crime.  About  the  time  of  the 
disappearance  of  Lee,  two  young  girls  were  rambling  in  these 
woods,  when  they  suddenly  came  upon  a  man  who  was  sitting 
by  a  pile  of  fresh  earth.  He  was  one  of  the  mule  drivers 
above  mentioned.  The  girls  wondered  what  the  fresh  dirt 
meant,  but  never  thought  of  the  matter  again  until  years 
afterwards,  when  the  confession  of  Harrington  brought  it  to 
remembrance. 

Many  years  ago  in  this  town,  while  a  number  of  men  were 
excavating  for  the  purpose  of  making  a  new  roacl,  they  came 
upon  a  quantity  of  human  bones,  which  had  apparently  been 
thrown  promiscuously  together,  and  left  there  to  decay.  No 
one  could  recollect,  not  even  the  "  oldest  inhabitant,"  of  any 
person  or  persons  having  been  buried  there.  It  is  supposed 
an  Indian  battle  occurred  on  this  ground,  and  that  friend  and 
foe  were  buried  together,  and  left  to  rot. 

Verbank  Station  is  located  on  the  line  of  the  Duchess  and 
Columbia  Railroad.  It  is  at  the  intersection  of  the  main 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  42  T 

highway  between  the  Clove,  so  rich  with  immense  beds  of  iron 
ore,  and  the  beautiful  region  of  Washington  Hollow.  On  a 
knoll,  a  few  rods  from  the  station,  is  a  schoolhouse  and  an 
antiquated  church ;  and  on  another,  a  rural  cemetery.  Where 
only  a  few  years  ago  were  green,  open  meadows,  bordering  a 
crystal  stream,  a  little  village  has  sprung  up.  Verbank  Village 
lies  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  station.  It  is 
located  upon  the  verdant  banks  of  Sprout  Creek,  from  which 
it  takes  its  name.  Formerly  a  cotton  mill  and  a  paper  mill 
were  operated  here  by  the  water  power  furnished  by  that 
stream.  A  flour,  grist,  and  plaster  mill  is  now  in  operation 
here. 

Quaker  City,  or  Oswego,*  as  formerly  called,  is  below 
Verbank,  about  one  mile  east  of  Aloores  Mills  Station,  on  the 
Dachess  and  Columbia  Road.  Here  is  located  a  Hicksite 
Church  and  a  boarding  school.  The  latter  was  established  by 
the  Quakers  after  the  Nine  Partners  School  had  closed, 
and  was  a  flourishing  institution  under  their  charge.  It  was 
afterwards  purchased  by  private  parties,  by  whom  it  is  now 
managed.  It  is  situated  on  an  eminence,  surrounded  by 
enchanting  rustic  scenery,  and  by  a  rich  farming  country.  Its 
retired  situation  makes  it  eminently  suitable  for  children,  where 
they  avoid  the  many  temptations  incident  to  large  villages  and 
cities. 

The  Factory  Woods  derive  that  name  from  the  fact  that 
a  woolen  factory  was  formerly  established  on  the  adjacent 
stream  just  above  the  furnace  pond.  The  factory  was  not 
designed  for  the  manufacture  of  cloth,  but  merely  for  carding 
and  spinning.  A  falling  mill  was  established  here  at  the  same 
time. 

Some  years  ago,  a  widow  named  Odell,  living  in  the  town 
of  Union  Vale,  picked  up  near  Pleasant  Ridge  a  silver 
Spanish  dollar,  and  the  question  as  to  how  it  came  there  raised 
considerable  comment  at  the  time.  Afterward,  her  son,  in 

*  The  origin  'if  t'lis  namo  wu<  thus  told  tho  writer  :  An  FiuUm  and  his  sqnruv  wore 
oT-e  '-roi 1 1 if  up  a  \viiiilinu-  pat't  n  ilic  viciirry.  l>  t!i  the  \VOI-M-  t'r-'in  having  in!)  bed  two 
iinic'i  P<>«r  wiiNkcv.  \s  tln-y  traveled  on,  rec'liiiy  against  tach  other,  tlioy  wuuIU  articu- 
Litu  "Us- we  gu,  Us  we-  go." 


422  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS    COUNTY. 

passing  over  the  mountain,  found  another  coin  of  the  same 
kind.  Report  of  the  discovery  spread  among  the  people  of 
that  section,  and  excited  them  to  the  extent  that  they  repaired 
to  the  spot  with  picks  and  shovels,  and  began  to  search  for 
treasure  that  was  supposed  to  be  hidden  there.  All  day 
Saturday  and  Sunday  they  pursued  their  investigations.  At 
sundown  on  Sunday,  as  they  stopped  work,  it  was  mutually 
agreed  to  desist  from  further  explorations  until  daylight  the 
following  morning.  Some  parties,  however,  were  so  anxious 
after  the  treasure,  that  they  broke  over  the  agreement,  and 
'dug  away  with  might  and  main  all  night.  About  sixteen 
Spanish  dollars  in  all  were  found.  Old  settlers  tell  the  story 
of  a  foreigner  who  visited  these  parts  about  fifty  years  ago, 
who  stopped  but  a  short  time,  and  his  final  disappearance  was 
•so  sudden  as  to  cause  general  remark.  At  the  time  there  was 
a  hotel  on  the  mountain,  kept  by  George  Wait,  and  the  build 
ing  is  still  standing.  The  supposition  is  that  the  foreigner 
buried  his  money  in  the  mountain,  and  it  has  washed  out  of 
its  be  1.  In  no  other  way  can  the  presence  of  money  in  this 
lonely  place  be  accounted  for. 


WASHINGTON. 


POPULATION.  3,000. — SQUARE  ACRES,  36,648. 


ASHI^GTON  was  formed  March  7,  1788.  The  origin 
of  its  name  is  obvious.  It  is  mostly  comprised  within 
the  Great  Nine  Partners  Tract.  Stanford  was  taken  off 
7/$ji  in  1793.  The  surface  is  a  rolling  and  hilly  upland. 
Slate  crops  out  on  the  hills,  and  water-worn  pebbles  are  thickly 
strewn  over  a  small  portion  of  the  surface.  The  principal 
elevations  are  Muckle  Hill,  Molly  Mountain,  Plymouth  Hill, 
and  Canoe  Hill.  The  last  named  is  so  called  because  of  its 
resemblance  to  an  inverted  canoe.  Round  and  Shaw  Ponds 
form  the  source  of  Wappingers  Creek.  Millbrook  (formerly 
Harts  Village)  is  a  flourishing  place.  The  first  mill  in  the 
town  was  erected  here  about  the  year  1760.  Mabbettsville, 
named  from  James  Mabbett,  a  former  proprietor,  and  origi 
nally  called  Filkintown,*  is  two  miles  east  of  Millbrook.  Me 
chanic,  a  short  distance  below  the  latter,  is  celebrated  as  being 
the  place  where  the  noted  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School  was 
located.  Little  Rest  is  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town.  An 
old  resident  told  the  writer  that  many  years  ago,  a  young  man 

*  It  is  fan]  thnf  FilVin.  oro  of  Iho-orfpnal  proprietors,  caused  the  place  to  bo  named 
after  him  by  the  present  of  a  barrel  ot  rum. 

423 


424  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

hired  out  to  a  farmer  in  the  vicinity.  The  farmer  worked  him 
late  at  night,  and  routed  him  early  in  the  morning  ;  and 
seemed  determined  to  get  all  the  work  out  of  the  fellow  that 
was  possible.  The  young  man  complained  of  his  treatment  to 
some  of  his  friends,  exclaiming,  with  an  oath,  that  it  was  very 
"  little  rest"  he  ever  got  while  living  with  his  employer.  The 
locality  has  ever  since  retained  the  name.  Lithgow,  Washing 
ton  Hollow,  and  Washington  Four  Corners,  are  hamlets. 

Examination  by  Captain  Paul  Rvcaut,  taken  at  Poughhketpsie, 

0:t.  7/1771- 

Serg't  Cassedy's  account  of  the  ill  treatment  he  Received 
from  Jonathan  Mead  the  Blacksmith  and  Timothy 
Driskill  at  the  Nino  Partners  when  on  Command  after 
De.eiters  September  the  soth,  1761. 

That  on  the  2Qth  day  of  September  Lieut.  Lyons  detached 
him  and  a  Serg't  of  the  55th  with  ten  men  in  pursuit  of  three 
deserters  from  the  i7th  Regiment,  which  he  had  information 
were  concealed  by  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Nine  Partners,  when 
he  with  the  Command  came  to  a  place  called  the  City*  he 
was  informed  that  one  Mclntosh,  a  Deserter  from  the  55th 
Regiment  was  at  work  for  Mr.  Bokay  a  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
near  the  above  mentioned  place,  he  though r  it  necessary  to 
send  the  Serg't  of  the  55th  in  pursuit  of  said  Deserter,  and 
himself  with  a  Corporal  and  three  men  to  continue  the  route 
to  nine  Partners,  when  he  parted  from  the  Serg't  of  the  55th 
he  gave  him  Lieut.  Colonel  Darby's  orders  and  pass  which  he 
had  received  from  Lieut.  Lyons.  As  soon  as  he  came  to  the 
nine  Partners  he  was  informed  that  three  men  whose  names 
they  said  were  Charles  Lee,  John  Brevington  and  Joseph 
Roberts  (whom  he  knew  to  be  deserters  from  the  i7th  Regi 
ment)  had  been  lately  at  Sutherland's  Mills.  Asked  a  Black 
smith  if  he  could  inform  them  of  any  Deserters,  he  answered 
he  knew  of  none,  and  if  he  did  he  would  not  tell — the  Serg't 
then  proceeded  to  the  Mills  and  enquired  from  Mr.  Suther 
land,  (who  he  was  told  is  an  officer  ot  the  militia,)  if  he  had 
seen  three  IT  en  pasi  t'nt  way,  he  said  that  he  had  seen  three 
men  there  abo.it  ta.ir  days  ago,  and  that  he  had  given  them 
change  for  some  Dollars,  and  likewise  that  one  of  them  (which 
the  Serg't  knew  by  the  description  to  be  Charles  Lee,  one  of 

*  In  the  T<mn  of  Amenia, 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  425 

the  Deserters  above  mentioned)  had  a  great  number  of  Dol 
lars  in  a  handkerchief,  and  wanted  to  change  Dollar  for  Dollar 
with  the  said  Sutherland,  he  giving  none  of  a  later  date  than 
1755 — this  made  ye  Serg't  conclude  that  Lee  had  coined  the 
Dollars — the  Serg't  afterward  came  to  the  house  of  one  Free 
man  who  told  him  that  three  men,  naming  the  three  Deserters 
names,  viz  :  Charles  Lee,  John  Brevington  and  Joseph  Roberts 
had  been  four  days  near  his  house  carousing,  and  had  left  it 
about  five  clay  since,  when  they  went  away  they  stole  a  coat 
from  him  ;  the  said  Freeman  next  day  went  with  the  Serg't  in 
pursuit  of  the  Deserters,  on  their  way  they  were  informed  that 
a  Deserter  from  the  55th  Reg't  was  married  to  the  daughter  of 
Timothy  Driskill  whose  house  was  in  their  road,  when  they 
came  to  Driskill's  house  he  told  the  Serg't  he  knew  of  no 
Deserters.  That  it  was  false  whoever  had  told  him  that  his 
daughter  was  married  to  one — as  the  Serg't  had  been  told  that 
Driskiil  was  a  man  of  bad  character  and  did  knowingly  enter 
tain  Deserters,  he  secured  said  Driskill  who  then  confessed 
that  his  daughter  was  married  to  a  Deserter  from  the  55th, 
and  that  he  knew  of  one  Armstrong  from  Sage's  light  Infantry, 
and  would  assist  him  in  taking  them.  After  the  Serg't  had 
settled  with  Driskill  in  what  manner  thev  were  to  act  he  with 
one  man  of  his  party  went  to  a  house  a  little  distance  from  the 
Driskills.  and  after  they  were  got  into  bed  the  above  men 
tioned  Mea:l  a  Blacksmith  with  about  thirty  other  people 
forced  into  the  house  and  dragged  the  Serg't  and  Allan  Cooper 
a  Grenadier  into  different  rooms  and  beat  them  in  a  most 

cruel  manner,  saying  D n  the   king  and  all  such  raschally 

fellows  that  were  after  Deserters,  and  after  they  were  tired  of 
beating  them  kept  them  prisoners  all  ivght  without  having  any 
proper  authority  for  it,  the  next  morning  Samuel  Smith  a  Con 
stable  and  likewise  an  officer  of  the  militia,  came  to  them  and 
said  that  he  had  a  warrant  to  take  him  the  Serg't  and  his 
party  before  a  Justice  of  the  Peace,  the  Serg't  then  directed 
him  to  the  house  where  the  rest  of  the  party  were  also  secured 
and  with  him  carried  before  justice  Roswell  Hopkins,  who 
abused  them  very  .much  saying  Lieut.  Lyons  his  officer,  and  he 
deserved  both  to  be  handed,  and  uttered  many  abusive  expres 
sions,  and  would  not  even  suffer  them  to  say  anything  in 
defense,  but  committed  them  unheard  to  the  Common  Goal, 
nor  would  the  Justice  take  the  least  cognizance  of  their  infor 
mation  against  Driskill  for  concealing  Deserters,  nor  of  Mead 
the  Blacksmith  leading  a  posse  breaking  into  the  house  where 
they  lay,  beating  them  in  a  most  terrible  manner,  and  using  ye 


426  HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

traitorous  expressions  he  did  against  the  King's  Sacred  Majesty. 
By  what    information  I  could  collect  from  the  inhabitants, 
those  of  the  nine  Partners  are   a  riotous  people  and   Levellers 
by  principle.  PAUL  RYCAUT,  Captain. 

To  Lieut.  Colonel  JOHN  DERBY. 

The  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School  was  established  in 
1796,  at  Mechanic,  by  the  society  of  friends.  A  farm  of  one 
hundred  acres  was  attached  to  it,  and  it  was  provided  with  a 
cash  endowment  of  $10,000.  For  many  years  it  had  an 
average  attendance  of  one  hundred  pupils.  Jacob  Willetts 
was  the  first  pupil  of  the  school,  and  was  connected  with  it, 
either  in  the  capacity  of  pupil  or  teacher,  for  a  period  of  thirty 
years  or  more.  The  school  building  was  originally  built  for  a 
dwelling  house ;  Samuel  Sweet  was  the  builder.  It  was  a 
large  and  commodious  edifice,  and  well  adapted  to  the  pur 
pose.  The  society  purchased  the  building,  and  the  lot  on 
which  it  stood,  of  Samuel  Mabbett.  They  afterward  made 
some  additions  to  it,  and  also  some  changes  in  its  interior. 

Jacob  Willetts  was  the  first  teacher  that  was  educated  in 
the  school.  Tripp  Mosher  was  the  first  Superintendent,  and 
Joseph  Talcott  the  second.  Willetts  commenced  teaching 
when  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  ;  his  wages  were  taken  up 
by  his  father.  The  day  he  was  twenty-one  he  stepped  into  the 
Superintendent's  office,  and  speaking  in  a  manly  tone,  said — 
"  you  may  make  your  entries  in  my  name  now,  sir,  if  you 
please."  A  gentleman  by  the  name  of  Huntington  was 
teacher  one  or  two  years. 

Willetts  married  Deborah  Rogers,  descendant,  in  a  direct 
line,  of  John  Rogers  of  early  colonial  history.  She, 
too,  was  first  a  pupil  in  the  school,  and  afterward  became 
teacher.  She  taught  most  of  the  time  from  1802  until  the 
Separation.  This  occasioned  so  much  feeling  that  the  school 
was  nearly  broken  up,  and  Willetts  and  his  wife  went  to 
Nantucket,  where  they  remained  about  five  years.  They 
returned  in  1832,  and  opened  a  private  boarding  school  in  the 
spring  of  the  following  year.  lie  taught  there  two  years, 


HISTORY    OF    DUCHESS    COUNTY.  427 

when  he  was  requested  to  go  back  to  the  Nine  Partners 
School.  He  accepted,  at  the  same  time  engaging  a  man  to 
teach  his  own  school,  to  which  he  soon  afterwards  returned. 
He  traveled  summers  and  taught  winters  until  about  the  year 
1853,  when  he  gave  up  teaching. 

The  fame  of  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School  while  Wil- 
letts  had  charge  of  it  extended  far  and  wide.  But  what  brought 
his  name  still  more  prominently  before  the  public  was  the  fact  of 
his  writing  some  text  books  for  schools,  which  at  that  time 
were  considered  the  best  extant.  The  first  edition  of 
"  Willetts'  arithmetic"  was  published  in  1813.  Paraclete 
Potter,  the  old  bookseller  of  Poughkeepsie,  was  the  publisher. 
Willetts  took  his  manuscript  to  him,  uncertain  as  to  its  fate. 
Potter  looked  over  the  pages,  saw  there  was  true  merit  in 
them,  and  readily  offered  to  become  publisher ;  and  further 
more,  made  a  payment  of  $20  in  books.  Mrs.  Willetts  said 
to  the  writer,  that  when  her  husband  returned  with  all  those 
books,  she  felt  the  richest  she  ever  did  in  her  life.  This 
arithmetic  was  extensively  used  throughout  the  country,  and 
passed  through  several  editions.  There  are  many  a  prosperous 
merchant  and  business  mm  now  living,  who  received  their 
first  lessons  in  the  dspirment  of  figures  from  Willett's  arithme 
tic.  The  work  was  afterwards  revised  by  Augustus  McCord, 
-of  LaGrange.  Willetts  afterward  issued  a  geography  and 
atlas,  the  most  accurate  of  any  then  known. 

The  beloved  widow  of  Jacob  Willetts  is  still  [1876]  living 
at  a  very  advanced  age,  and  is  enjoying  the  eventide  of  a 
useful  life  under  the  tender  care  of  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Frank 
lin  T.  Carpenter.  It  was  recently  the  fortune  of  the  writer  to 
spend  an  hour  with  her ;  her  cheerful  countenance,  and  her 
sprightly  recital  of  events  occurring  in  the  dim  past,  will  long 
be  remembered.  Among  other  things  that  contribute  to  cheer 
the  old  lady's  walk  in  life,  not  the  least  are  the  little  memen 
toes  she  continues  to  receive  from  time  to  time,  from  people 
eminent  in  the  varied  professions,  who  received  their  early 
•  education — and  perhaps  the  lofty  inspiration  that  led  to  their 


428 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


•success — at  the  schools  of  which  she  and  her  husband  were  the 
guiding  stars.  She  holds  these  little  tokens  as  giving  her  far 
more  satisfaction  than  if  they  were  of  shining  gold. 

Some  of  the  readers  of  this  volume,  who  were  pupils  in  the 
Nine  Partners  School,  will  doubtless  recall  the  shining  counte 
nance  of  Esther,  the  colored  cook,  and  also  the  ebony  visage 
of  her  consort,  Emanuel  Carman,  who  figured  as  a  man  of  all 
work.  She  used  to  "haul  him  over  the  coals,"  so  to  speak, 
after  the  manner  of  a  notable  housewife,  when  he  did  net 
demean  himself  according  to  her  standard  of  propriety.  The 
cut  of  the  school  building,  here  given,  is  taken  from  memory, 
but  is  believed  to  present  quite  a  correct  idea  of  its  appearance. 


William  Thorn,  great-grandfather  of  the  present  owner  of 
Thorndale,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Nine  Partners.  He 
was  a  merchant  and  large  landholder.  He  also  owned 
considerable  land  in  the  State  of  Vermont.  It  cons'sted  of 
bounty  lands  of  soldiers,  which  he  had  purchased — giving  them 
a  suit  of  clothes  in  exchange  for  a  land  warrant.  His  wife 
was  named  Jemina,  who  died  at  the  extraordinary  age  of  99 
years.  She  was  a  tall,  spare  woman,  of  very  plain  features, 
but  very  amiable  disposition  and  sterling  worth.  William  used 
facetiously  to  remark  that  he  did  not  marry  Jemima  from 
motives  either  of  love  or  money,  but  solely  for  her  beauty. 
Samuel  Thorn,  son  of  William,  also  kept  a  store  at  Nine 
Partners,  (now  Mechanic,)opposite  the  Nine  Partners  boarding 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  429 

school,  in  1805.  This  was  then  the  great  business  mart  for  all 
the  country  round. 

The  great-grandfather  of  the  venerable  William  Sharpstein1 
owned  an  extensive  tract  of  land  at  Washington  Hollow.  The 
latter  says  that  as  far  back  as  his  recollection  extends,  farms  were' 
more  or  less  improved,  though  there  was  much  more  woodland. 
His  grandfather  used  to  tell  him  about  the  wild  deer  that- 
frequented  localities  in  plain  sight  of  the  house  ;  he  was  also 
in  the  habit  of  pointing  out  places  in  the  woods  where  he  had 
at  various  times  shot  wild  animals.  The  Indians  had  a 
rendezvous  on  the  south  side  of  a  hill,  on  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  him,  where  they  came  to  winter.  When  he  was  a 
boy,  the  Indians  were  accustomed  to  visit  this  vicinity 
occasionally,  but  they  were  not  numerous.  He  had  a  mortal 
fear  of  them  however,  though  they  were  entirely  harmless. 

Above  Washington  Hollow,  on  the  main  road  to  Stanford, 
nearly  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago,  were  the  following  resi 
dents:  first  was  one  Halleck,  and  above  him  was  Nicholas 
Bash  ;  ne::t  lived  Jacob  Sharpstein,  and  then  came  Jacob 
Smith,  who  owned  land  adjoining  the  south  line  of  Johnson's 
pitent  ;  above  him  lived,  in  the  order  of  their  names 
mentioned,  one  Harrington,  John  Albright.  Coonley,  and 
TV):  is  '"irjii  ;  D  ivi  1  Jo'ivoi  liveA  at  Lithp.v;  he  was  one 
of  the  Nine  Partners.  The  house  built  by  him  is  still  stand 
ing,  we  believe.  There  was  considerable  lease  land  about 
here  at  that  time. 

East  of  the  Hollow,  along  the  turnpike  on  the  hill,  were 
the  families  of  Hallecks.  Wallace  and  Baremore  were  origi 
nal  settlers.  Washington  Four  Corners  used  to  be  a  public 
place,  and  was  then  called  the  Cross  Roads.  At  what  is  now 
Mechanic  used  to  live  a  number  of  families  named  Haight. 
S'lerLT  Thorn,  who  figured  quite  conspicuously  in  the  early 
history  of  the  county,  lived  at  Little  Rest.  He  hung  some 
fellows  in  Poughkeepsie.  William  Sharpstein,  Esq.,  from  whom 
many  of  the  foregoing  facts  are  obtained,  went  to  Poughkeep- 
sb  to  see  them  hung.  The  Germonds  settled  between  Nine 


430  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

Partners  and  Verbank.  In  1813,  William  German  kept 
tavern  at  Washington  Hollow,  east  of  the  gate.  Sharpstein 
says  he  went  to  Poughkeepsie  to  see  the  first  carding  machine 
that  was  ever  set  up  in  the  county.  It  was  set  at  work  in  a. 
building  near  Peltons  Pond,  and  was  owned  by  one  Booth. 

The  Bloom  House  was  built  in  1801.  Bloom  owned  a  mill 
on  the  premises.  An  extensive  cotton  factory  was  burned 
here  a  few  years  ago.  Carpenter  and  Bedell  were  extensive 
early  landholders.  The  Conrad  Ham  House,  south  of 
Washington  Hollow,  on  the  road  to  Verbank,  is  of  quaint 
construction,  and  is  over  a  hundred  years  old. 

Swift's  Lowlands,  a  name  given  in  former  times  to  a  low 
tract  of  land  in  the  vicinity,  is  associated  by  local  tradition, 
with  the  movements  of  the  Tories  in  these  parts.  Mention 
has  already  been  made  of  a  collision  that  occurred  between  a 
band  of  Tories  and  a  number  of  volunteers,  in  a  meadow  near 
the  Hollo.v.  The  volunteers,  many  of  whom  were  from 
Connecticut,  met  at  Blooms  Mill,  and  one  fine  morning 
marched  down  and  attacked  the  Tories,  who  were  on  parade. 
About  forty  of  the  latter  were  captured,  and  sent  to  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  where  they  were  confined  a  long  time.  This 
was  probably  the  worst  Tory  nest  in  the  whole  country. 

Matthew  Comstock  was  one  of  the  oldest  settlers  in  this 
region.  He  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  refined  cider,  near 
Mabbettsville.  from  various  varieties  of  the  apple,  viz  :  The 
crab  apple  ;  a  peculiar  kind  of  russet ;  the  styre,  red-streak, 
&c. 

North  of  the   Hollow  was  formerly  a  small  burial  ground. 
Here  a  little  negro  boy  was  buried,  over  whom  was   placed  SL 
headstone,  with  the  following  quaint  inscription  : 

"  IT  re  lies  a  little  nijrger; 
If  he'd  lived  a  little  longer,  he'd  have  been  a  little  bijrger." 

One  of  the  first  substantial  church  edifices  in  this  town  was 
the  Brick  Meeting  House,  built  in  1780  by  the  Society  of 
Friends.*  The  bricks  used  in  its  construction  were  manufac- 


*  Some  sort  of  aclu  rch  was  in  existence  previous  to  this. 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY.  43 1 

tured  in  the  immediate  vicinity;  the  mortar  in  which  the  bricks 
were  laid  is  at  this  day  harder  than  the  bricks  themselves.  The 
walls  two  feet  in  thickness,  and  true  as  when  first  built;  the 
windows  set  in  heavy  sash  frames ;  yellow-pine  flooring, 
fastened  to  the  timbers  by  wrought  iron  nails;  the  antiquated 
pews  and  unpainted  columns  which  support  the  galleries,  and 
which  have  not  been  altered  since  the  house  was  built ;  the 
huge  rafters,  a  foot  in  thickness,  which  support  the  roof; — 
these  and  other  peculiarities  fill  the  mind  of  the  beholder  with 
wonder.  Two  huge  horseblocks  stand  in  front  of  the  church  ; 
time  has  rendered  one  unserviceable ;  on  the  other  was  a  sun 
dial  placed  there  by  Jacob  Willetts,  nearly  seventy  years  ago. 
A  winding  flight  of  stairs  leads  to  the  gallery,  where  are  long 
rows  of  benches  which  once  were  thronged  with  worshipers, 
but  which  are  now  silent  as  the  chamber  of  death.  A  brick  in 
the  rear  wall  bears  the  date  of  its  erection,  1780.  Time  as  yet 
has  made  little  or  no  impression  on  the  building.  The  same 
windows  and  shutters,  sills  and  frames,  all  of  cypress  wood,  are 
in  good  preservation. 

Attached  to  this  meeting  house  was  one  hundred  acres  of 
land,  which  was  purchased  by  the  Friends  before  the  house  was 
built.  The  church  and  the  Nine  Partners  Boarding  School 
building  was  afterward  erected  on  it.  After  three-fourths  of  a 
century  had  elapsed,  they  sold  ninety  acres  of  land,  including 
the  school  building.  The  purchaser  demolished  that  edifice, 
and  now  nothing  remains  of  it  but  its  history.  The  Friends 
have  now  about  ten  acres  of  land,  including  the  burial  ground. 
The  Orthodox  house  is  a  plain  wooden  building,  erected  about 
the  time  of  the  Separation. 

The  burial  grounds  attached  to  the  Brick  Meeting  House 
have  been  devoted  to  purposes  of  interment  for  more  than  a 
century.  The  Friends  in  early  times  were  opposed  to  erecting 
monuments  over  the  dead ;  and  so  long  have  the  graves  been 
there  that  even  the  mounds  have  disappeared.  Dig  down  into 
any  part  of  the  enclosure,  and  you  will  find  the  bones  of  those 
long  ago  laid  there  to  rest.  The  long  rows  of  sheds  ;  the  staples 


432 


HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 


driven  into  the  trees  whose  birth  appeared  to  reach  beyond  the 
time  when  the  first  white  man  saw  the  Nine  Partners  Tract ; — 
all  speak  of  the  period  when  this  hallowed  place  was  thronged 
with  worshipers.  But  now  the  turf  is  unbroken,  which  whilom 
was  torn  asunder  by  the  restless  hoof. 

The  grounds  of  the  Duchess  County  Agricultural  Society, 
organized  Oct.  16,  1841,  lie  partly  in  this  town.  The  first 
President  of  the  Society  was  Henry  Staats,  and  the  first  Sec 
retary,  George  Kneeland.  The  County  Poor  House,  which 
was  formerly  kept  in  Poughkeepsie,  was  a  few  years  since 
erected  in  the  town  of  Washington.  The  small  building  shown 
at  the  left  of  the  large  one,  in  the  cut,  is  provided  with  cells, 
in  which  the  more  dangerous  paupers  are  confined. 


Duchess  County  Alms-House,  Washington. 

In  an  old  day-book,  dated  at  Nine  Partners,  Charlotte 
Precinct,  in  the  year  1770,  occur  the  following  names  of 
persons,  many  of  whose  descendants  are  yet  living  in  various 
parts  of  the  country:  Titus,  Sherman,  Allen,  Sackett,  Boyce, 
Northrop,  Gifford,  Morey,  Cutler,  Swift,  Sutherland,  Hurd, 
Hilliard,  Mabbett,  Wolsey,  Mott,  White,  Thorn,  Hammond, 
Hart,  Belding,  Holmes,  Sweet,  &c.  It  would  seem  that  the 
store  was  patronized  by  people  living  in  widely  separated 
districts,  as  the  names  given  are  those  of  the  early  settlers  of 
other  towns  in  the  county.  We  annex  a  list  of  some  of  the 
items  charged,  together  with  the  price: 

Isaac  Boyce,  i  gal.  ram,  55 ;  Joseph  Thorn  -J-  gal.  molasses, 
is.  5d.  ;  Joseph  Brown,  i  qt.  rum,  is.  QC!.  ;  Honamonas 
Knickerbacker,  i  tea  by  Tom,  75.  6d. ;  David  Ketcham,  i  pair 


HISTORY  OF  DUCEHSS  COUNTY.  433. 

heels,  6d.  ;  James  Logham,  J  Ib.  tea,  is.  nd.  ;  2  Ibs.  sugar,  is. 
5(1.,  3  tobacco,  2S.  6d.  ;  There  occur  also  the  following 
credits;  i  deer  skin,  £i  53.  ;  4  yards  toa  cloth,  2S.  9:!.  The 
frequency  with  which  the  item  rum  occurs  in  the  charges  would 
seem  to  indicate  that  it  was  an  important  article  of  traffic. 

The  original  Harts  Village  is  situated  upon  the  banks  of  a 
wild  and  picturesque  ravine,  through  which  flows  a  tributary  of 
Wappingers  Creek.  The  water  power  furnished  by  this  stream 
was  the  cause  of  the  growth  of  the  place.  It  takes  its  name 
from  one  of  the  first  settlers,  who,  a  century  since,  purchased 
nearly  one  thousand  acres  of  land,  and  immediately  commenced 
improvements  upon  it.  There  are  few  deeds  of  old  date  cov 
ering  land  in  the  vicinity  which  do  not  refer  to  Philip  Hart. 
Some  of  his  descendants  still  reside  in  the  village. 

About  forty  years  since,  the  firm  of  Merritt  &  Haviland 
purchased  much  of  the  water  privilege  here,  and  erected  three 
large  cotton  factories.  Overtaken  by  adverse  circumstances,, 
the  firm  failed  and  the  buildings  were  sold.  One  is  now  occu 
pied  as  a  flouring  mill,  another  as  a  dwelling,  and  the  third, 
having  been  destroyed  by  fire  and  rebuilt,  is  now  used  as  a 
milk  condensing  establishment.  There  are  various  saw,  plaster 
and  gr'st  mills,  and  also  a  manufactory  of  spools,  along  this 
stream,  which  falls  more  than  a  hundred  feet  in  less  than  a 
mile.  The  enterprising  village  of  Millbrook  sprung  up  a  few 
years  since,  adjoining  Harts  Village,  after  the  Duchess  &  Co 
lumbia  Railroad  was  built,  and  the  two  villages  are  now  con 
sidered  as  one  under  the  name  of  Millbrook. 

A  fulling  mill  was  established  at  Harts  Village  in  1813. 
About  the  year  1820,  the  firm  of  Giftbrd,  Sherman,  &  Innis, 
started  an  establishment  here  for  the  cutting  of  dye-woods. 
One  of  the  firm  is  still  living,  we  believe,  and  has  an  interest 
in  the  dye-woods  business  in  Ponghkeepsie.  An  old  grist  mill 
stood  in  this  ravine  that  was  built  by  Philip  Hart,  the  original 
owner.  The  top  of  the  mill  was  fifty  feet  below  the  road  ;  a 
long  trough  or  "  shute"  was  constructed  by  which  the  grain 


434  HISTORY  OF  DUCHESS  COUNTY. 

could  be  conveyed  from  the  wagons  through  a  hole  in  the  roof 
of  the  mill,  fifty  feet  below. 

A  few  years  ago,  George  H.  Brown,  Esq.,  President  of  the 
Duchess  &  Columbia  Railroad,  took  up  his  residence  in  this 
town.  He  was  induced  to  do  this,  it  is  said,  under  the  belief 
that  the  recuperating  air  of  this  region  would  aid  in  the 
restoration  of  his  health,  a  belief  which  has  happily  been  veri 
fied.  He  built  an  elegant  villa  on  a  high  plateau,  a  short 
distance  from  Washington  Hollow:  which  is  probably  one  of 
the  finest  in  the  state,  outside  of  the  largest  cities.  He  has 
been  instrumental  in  the  erection  of  two  or  three 
spacious  churches,  contributing  largely  of  his  means  for  the 
purpose.  One  of  these,  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  the 
Four  Corners,  is  a  magnificent  structure  of  Gothic  architec 
ture.  Over  the  north  entrance  is  a  tower  and  a  spire  which 
shoots  up  to  the  height  of  one  hundred  and  thirty  feet  from 
the  earth.  A  fine  toned  bell  and  clock  is  placed  in  the  upper 
section  of  the  tower ;  striking  of  the  hours  may  at  times  be 
distinctly  heard  a  distance  of  two  miles.  Two  aisles  lead  the 
way  to  the  preacher's  desk  ;  behind  this  is  the  choir's  seat. 
which  faces  the  congregation. 


WAPPINGER. 


*  HE  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Act  erecting  the  new  Town 
of  Wappinger.  passed  May  20,  1875: 

"  All  that  part  of  the  Town  of  Fishkill.  in  the  County 
of  Duchess,  situate,  lying  and  being  north  of  a  line 
beginning  at  a  point  on  the  easterly  shore  of  the  Hudson  River, 
distant  two  hundred  feet  northerly  from  the  residence  of  Thom 
as  Aldridge,  and  running  thence  easterly  in  a  straight  line  to 
a  point  in  the  center  of  the  public  highway  leading  from  Fish- 
kill  to  Hope  well,  two  hundred  feet  northerly  from  the  home 
stead  of  Lebbeus  Charlock,  and  running  from  thence  in  a 
straight  line  due  east,  to  the  westerly  bank  of  Sprout  Creek,  is 
nereby  erected  into  a  separate  and  new  town,  to  be  hereafter 
known  and  distinguished  as  '  Wappinger.' 

••  The  first  annual  town  meeting  of  the  town  of  Wappin 
ger,  as  herein  erected,  shall  be  held  at  the  wagon-maker's  shop 
of  Brower  Brothers,  in  the  village  of  Wappinger  Falls,  on  the 
first  Tuesday  of  March,  1876.  and  thereafter  on  the  same  day 
that  other  towns  hold  their  annual  town  meetings  in  said 
County  of  Duchess.  Arminius  W.  Armstrong.  Joseph  Van 
Voorhis  and  Edward  M.  Pier,  are  hereby  appointed  to  preside 
at  the  first  town  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  said  town  of  Wap 
pinger,  to  appoint  a  clerk,  to  open  and  keep  the  polls,  and 
have  and  exercise  the  same  powers  as  Justice  of  the  P?ace 
when  presiding  at  town  meetings." 

435 


APPENDIX. 


APPENDIX  A.* 


CARMEL. 

ARMEL  was  an  organized  town  in  DUCHESS  prior  to  the' 
f)  erection  of  Putnam  into  a  separate  County.  It  was" 
forme.d  from  "  Frederickstown,"  March  ryth,  1795.  Its 
surface  is  rolling  and  hilly,  with  intervening  valley3 
running  in  a  north  and  south  direction.  Its  soil  is  a  light,  grav 
elly,  sandy  loam,  occasionally  intermixed  with  clay.  Peekskill 
Hollow  Range,  and  Big  Hill,  are  the  highest  summits. f  In 
the  town  are  several  beautiful  lakes  and  ponds,  the  principal  cf 
which  are  Lakes  Mahopac,  Gleneida,  Gilead,  Kirk  and  Long 
Pond.  It  is  so  named  from  its  fancied  resemblance  to  Mount 
Carmel. 

The  first  settlement  was  made  about  the  year  1740,  by 
George  Hughson,  who  located  on  the  ridge  just  north  of  Lake 
Mahopac.  The  following  year,  William  and  Uriah  Hill  came 
up  to  the  "  Red  Mills,"  and  began  to  clear  a  tract  of  land  pur 
chased  of  the  Indians.  Uriah,,  in  some  way,  made  himself 
obnoxious  to  his  dusky  neighbors,  and  was  obliged  to  leave. 

*  As  most  of  the  towns  in  Putnam  f'ounry  were  formerjy  organized  towrjrih  l)uthcs»i 
ft  is  thought  proper  to  jrive  a  brief  sk<  tch  of  each,  in  the  lorm'  of  an  appendix. 

t  Am«'iitr  the  principal  peaks  in  town  are  IJoimd,  Tnrkey,  an  I  Comn*  Mountains,  an* 
Ooose,  1'iarrctt.  I'tirm  d  and  Prospet;  Hilt-,  in  the  north  part;  I  i.spsh.  Watts.  I'ond,  an.'f 
Drew  Hills,  in  tin-  eastern  portion:  p.atl.  Wateni flon.  Indian,  ai>d  Koni.d?  Hills,  in  t!ur 
•oiith:  Austin.  (Jolden  Root  a"d  Hemlook-  IJilJs,  IB  the  west;  and  Battle  and-  Haeettv llifo; 
4«d  Adauis  liidye  in  the  central  part. 

435^ 


APPENDIX  A. 

William  remained  on  the  place  with  his  mother,  who  afterward 
died  at  the  Red  Mills  at  the  advanced  age  of  93  years. 

One  night,  William,  when  a  mere  lad,  was  out  looking  for 
the  cow,  and  was  attacked  by  wolves.  He  climbed  a  tree,  and 
remained  in  it  all  night.  The  feelings  of  the  mother  may  be 
imagined,  as  she  heard  the  howling  of  the  wolves,  and  knew 
they  were  cm  track  of  her  boy,  away  in  the  dark  woods.  The 
next  morning  William  made  a  circuit  to  the  north  side  of  the 
Lake  Mahopac,  where  he  came  upon  the  log  house  occupied 
by  George  Hughson.  This  was  the  first  he  learned  of  any 
white  man  residing  near.  About  this  time  the  Berrys,  Hed- 
yers,  Austins,  Roberdeans,  and  others,  settled  in  the  vicinity. 
A  family  named  Shaw  soon  settled  at  the  village  of  Carmel,  on 
the  north  and  south  shores  of  the  lake,  which  was  formerly 
known  as  S'haws  Pond. 

In  1770,  John  Crane  built  the  first  frame  house  erected  in 
this  part  of  the  county.  O.ie  Gjn.  Scott,  with  his  staT,  made 
it  his  headquarters  a  short  time  during  the  Revolution.  It 
stood,  until  within  a  few  years,  where  the  fine  mansion  of 
Benjamin  Crane,  Esq.,  now  stands. 

"  At  the  First  Town  Meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Carmel 
at  the  house  of  John  Crane,  Esq.,  on  the  7th  of  Apii1.  1795, 
the  following  persons  were  chosen  for  officers  for  said  town, 
viz. : — Robert  Johnston,  Esq.,  Moderator  ;  John  Crane,  Esq., 
Town  Clerk  ;  Timothy  Carver,  Supervisor ;  Daniel  Cole, 
Devowe  Bailey,  T-hacher  Hopkins,  Assessors ;  Elijah  Douty, 
•Collector  and  Constable ;  David  Travis,  Constable  ;  Devowe 
Bailey  and  D.aniel  Cole,  Overseers  of  the  Poor;  John  Crane, 
Esq  ,  Timothy  Crane,  and  Thacher  Hopkins,  Commissioners 
of  Highways." 

•"  Whereas  Tosepli  Gregory  of  the  town  of  Carmel  in  the 
County  of  Duchess  and  State  of  New  York,  hath  proposed  to 
•emancipate  and  set  free  three  female  negros,  the  property  of 
the  said  Joseph  Gregory,  agreeable  to  a  Law  of  this  State  in 
that  case  made  and  provided.  We  Robert  Johnston  and  John 
Crane,  Esqr's.,  two  of  the  peoples  Justices  of  the  Peace  for 
said  county  and  Elisha  Cole  and  Tracy  Ballard,  Overseers  of 
the  Poor  of  the  town  of  Carmel,  do  hereby  certify  that  we 
think  the  said  female  Negros,,  that  is  one  named  Anglesse 


APPENDIX  A.  441 

aged  about  26  years  one  other  6  years  named  Rose,  and 
another  named  Dinah,  aged  about  three  years,  are  all  sufficient 
to  provide  for  themselves.  Given  under  my  hand  this  3d  day 
of  January,  1798.  "  JOHN  CRANE,  Town  Clark." 

"  Carmel  Village" — says  Blake,  in  his  History  of  Putnam 
County — "is  a  quiet,  rural,  and  small  vilbge,  beautifully  situ 
ated  on  Shaws  Lake.  The  court-house,  jail,  clerk's  office,  and 
the  Putnam  County  Bank,  are  located  here.  Through  this 
village,  in  the  olden  time,  ran  one  of  the  roads  leading  from 
the  city  of  New  York  to  Albany,  and  places  in  its  vicinity. 
The  location  is  dry,  elevated,  and  healthy.  It  contains  [1849] 
three  churches  and  four  or  five  stores.  It  is  named  after  the 
town  in  which  it  is  located."  The  building  now  known  as  the 
Drew  Seminary  was  completed  in  the  year  1851  ;  about  which 
time  the  Raymond  Hill  Cemetery  was  laid  out. 

"  Red  Mills,  a  village  situated  on  the  Muscoot  River,  eight 
miles  southwest  from  Carmel — is  so  named  because  the  mill 
and  nearly  all  the  other  buildings  there  are  painted  red."  The 
first  carding  machine  put  up  in  this  country  was  brought  here 
by  an  Englishman  named  Ellinworth,  about  1800.  He  first 
set  it  up  at  Peekskill,  where  it  remained  about  two  years  ;  he 
then  brought  it  to  this  place,  where  it  was  looked  upon  with 
amazement.  It  is  supposed  he  bribed  the  Custom-house 
officers  to  let  it  pass. 

Major  Roger  Morris,  who  married  Mary  Philipse,  the 
whilom  flame  of  Washington,  had  a  log  mansion  here.  "  Mad 
am  Morris,"  as  she  was  called  by  the  tenants,  was  a  remarka 
ble  woman,  and  possessed  the  respect  and  esteem  of  her  ten 
ants.  The  middle  "  Long  Lot,"  which  fell  to  Madam  Morris 
at  the  death  of  her  father,  Frederick  Philipse,  included  the  Red 
Mills.  Major  Morris  and  lady  lived  a  greater  part  of  the  year 
at  New  York  or  Harlem,  and  at  a  certain  season  would  come 
up  and  spend  a  few  weeks  among  their  tenants.  Isaac  Louns- 
berry's  house  now  encloses  the  log  house  of  Madame  Morris. 
Morris  is  supposed  to  have  built  the  first  store  and  grist  mill  at 
this  place. 


442  APPENDIX  A. 

An  aged  lady,  familiarly  called  "  Granny  Hill,"  lived  in  a 
log  house  on  the  Morris  estate,  and  had  secured  the  friendship 
of  Madam  Morris.  Some  time  before  the  Revolution  a  kind 
of  anti-rent  rebellion  broke  out  among  the  tenantry.  A  paper 
was  drawn  up  and  circulated  among  the  tenants,  who  agreed 
to  make  common  came  in  the  matter.  Granny  Hill,  being 
misled  as  to  the  objects  of  the  instrument,  signed  it.  The 
Major  soon  afterward  called  upon  the  old  lady,  and  required 
her  to  take  off  her  name  ;  this  she  refused  to  do,  alleging  that 
she  "could  seal  it  with  her  blood."  She  was  then  told  she  must 
go  out  of  her  house,  and  out  she  went. 

"The  matter  soon  reached  the  ears  of  Madam  Morris, 
who  was  informed  of  the  deception  practiced  upon  her  aged 
tenant.  She  asked  the  Major  what  he  had  been  doing  with 
Granny  Hill  ?  He  replied  that  she  had  signed  '  that  paper,  and 
had  refused  to  take  her  name  off;  and  that  he  had  turned  the 
old  rebel  out  of  doors.'  The  Madam  could  not  for  a  moment 
believe  the  old  woman  would  do  anything  wrong  as  her  tenant, 
and  somewhat  resenting  the  hasty  conduct  of  her  husband, 
told  him  that  there  was  a  one  hundred  acre  tract  up  the  road, 
with  a  log  house  on  it,  and  that  Granny  Hill  should  have  a 
living  on  it  for  life,  gently  reminding  him  that  all  the  land  was 
hers  in  her  own  right,  and  cautioning  him  not  to  molest  the  old 
lady  again." 

Indian  Hill  is  an  eminence  at  the  south  end  of  Lake 
Mahopac,  so  named  after  the  Mahopac  tribe  of  Indians  who 
inhabited  this  region  of  country. 

Watermelon  Hill  is  about  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast 
of  Lake  Mahopac.  About  a  century  and  a  half  since,  a  great 
hunter  from  New  Rochelle,  West  Chester  County,  called  Captain 
Simpkins,  came  up  here  and  found  watermelons  in  great  plenty 
on  this  hill.  In  the  Revolution,  the  cow-boys  and  horse 
thieves  built  pens  on  this  hill,  in  which  they  put  stolen  horses 
until  they  could  safely  convey  them  into  British  lines.  The 
remains  of  some  of  these  pens  were  to  be  seen  as  late  as 
1830. 


APPENDIX  A.  443 

Battle  Hill  is  located  about  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of 
Carmel  Village.  It  was  formerly  a  resort  for  rattlesnakes.  A 
young  man  was  shot  on  this  hill  during  the  Revolution.  He 
lived  in  the  town  of  Pawling ;  had  lately  married  ;  and  was  on 
his  way  to  see  his  wife  who  was  with  her  friends  in  Westches- 
ter  County.  A  gang  of  horse  thieves,  who  had  their  head 
quarters  in  Pawling,  but  who  were  temporarily  encamped  on 
this  hill,  persuaded  him  to  defer  his  journey  a  day  or  two,  by 
offering  the  use  of  one  of  their  horses,  as  they  were  then  going 
in  the  same  direction  to  one  of  the  American  posts  near  the 
neutral  ground.  Not  doubting  their  representations  that  the 
horses  were  for  the  use  of  the  American  army,  and  ignorant  of 
the  character  of  his  companions,  he  accepted  the  offer.  In 
the  night  they  were  attacked  by  the  owners  of  the  horses.  The 
gang  escaped,  but  the  young  man  was  shot  through  the  back 
as  he  rose  up  from  the  ground  beneath  a  tree  where  he  was 
sleeping.  He  died  in  forty-eight  hours  afterwards,  but  he 
lived  long  enough  to  see  his  wife,  and  explain  to  her  and  those 
around  him,  how  he  happened  to  be  found  in  such  company. 
He  was  buried  a  few  rods  north  of  the  hill. 

Berry  Mountain — so-called  from  a  family  of  that  name — 
is  noticeable  from  the  fact  that  from  the  top  of  a  tree  on  its 
summit  seven  ponds  can  be  seen. 

Turkey  Mountain  was  formerly  covered  with  heavy  white 
oak  timber,  and  was  frequented  by  wild  turkeys. 

Lake  Mahopac*  is  a  romantic  body  of  water  in  the  westerly 
part  of  the  town.  It  is  nine  miles  in  circumference;  around 
its  borders  are  several  large  hotels  and  boarding  houses,  which 
are  thronged  during  the  summer  season  with  numbers  of  visi 
tors  from  New  York  and  Brooklyn.  A  number  of  beautiful 
residences  have  been  erected  on  the  surrounding  heights.  In 
this  lake  are  three  beautiful  islands — Big,  Petre,  and  Goose 
Islands.  On  one  of  these  is  the  Chieftain's  Rock,  where 
tradition  says  was  held  the  last  council  of  the  tribe.  They 
had  met  here  to  consider  a  proposition  to  move  farther  west. 

*  Called  in  Sauthier's  Map  "  JIacookpaek  Pond." 


444  APPENDIX  A. 

Canopus,  the  Indian  sachem,  from  this  rock  urged  his  followers 
to  reject  the  proposal  of  the  white  man,  and  besought  them  to 
rally  to  the  defence  of  their  empire,  and  the  graves  of  their 
forefathers.  But  his  Indian  braves  were  deficient  in  the  war 
like  valor  of  their  chief,  and  against  his  earnest  pleadings  they 
resolved  to  quit  their  happy  hunting  grounds,  and  migrate 
towards  the  setting  sun. 

Capt.  John  Crane  was  born  the  2oth  of  Nov.  1742  [o.  s.]. 
He  built  the  house  already  referred  to,  that  stood  on  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  Benjamin  Crane,  Esq.,  and  which 
was  razed  but  a  few  years  ago.  He  was  a  descendant  of  John 
Crane,  who  came  from  England  about  1675,  and  who  fought 
in  the  Indian  war  of  1720,  at  Deerfield,  and  was  in  the  fort 
when  it  was  taken  by  the  Indians.  By  making  a  passage 
under  the  logs  he  succeeded  in  escaping  with  his  family.  He 
was  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
"In  searching  the  Continental,  Provincial,  and  Military 
records  of  the  Revolution,"  says  Blake,  "  we  have  not  found 
one  of  the  name  adhering  to  the  cause  of  England." 

In  1803-5,  Capt.  John  Crane  was  Assistant  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Duchess  County.  All  of  that 
name,  who  were  old  enough  to  bear  arms,  held  commissions  at 
the  time  of  the  Revolution.  John  seems  to  have  early  become 
an  object  of  hatred  and  fear  to  the  Tories.  Attempts  were 
made  to  capture  him  in  his  own  house  when  alone,  and  to 
shoot  him  when  out  of  it  ;  but  the  efforts  of  his  enemies  were 
foiled  by  an  overruling  Providence.  "  One  night  in  the  fall  of 
1780,  he  retired,  after  first  carefully  securing  the  doors  and 
windows.  About  an  hour  afterward,  he  heard  a  rap  on  the 
side  of  the  house.  Looking  out  of  the  window,  which  was 
half  boarded  up,  he  there  saw  two  armed  men,  as  he  thought. 
A  reward  of  $200  had  been  offered  for  his  body,  dead  or  alive ; 
and  he  supposed  a  band  of  Tories  had  been  induced  to  pay 
him  a  night  visit,  the  others  of  the  party  being  secreted  hard 
by,  behind  the  trees  and  fences.  He  crept  out  of  the  back 
door,  and  hid  himself  in  an  adjoining  wood. 


APPENDIX  A.  445 

"After  his  departure,  his  wife  ventured  to  take  a  peep  out 
of  the  window,  and  saw  but  one  man.  He  spoke  to  her,  and 
begged  the  privilege  of  coming  in  and  having  something  to  eat 
and  of  resting  himself  upon  the  floor.  In  answer  to  her 
inquiry,  he  said  he  was  armed,  and  that  '  Washington's  soldiers 
always  went  armed.'  She  took  off  the  fastenings  of  the  window 
and  bade  him  hand  in  his  gun  breech  foremost ;  then  she 
cocked  the  gun,  opened  the  door,  standing  a  few  feet  back  to 
be  in  readiness  to  shoot  him  and  close  the  door  should  another 
make  his  appearance,  and  told  him  to  come  in.  She  bade  him 
fasten  it,  an:l  placing  the  gun  in  a  corner,  prepared  a  repast 
for  the  soldier.  Wiiile  he  was  eating,  Crane  crept  up  to  a 
back  window,  and  seeing  but  one  man  in  the  room  quietly 
engaged  in  eating  his  supper,  called  his  wife  to  let  him  in 
again.  He  begged  her  not  to  say  anything  about  the 
occurrence,  but  she  declared  it  was  too  good  to  keep ;  and 
many  a  time  did  she  afterward  rehearse  the  story  of  his  flight 
from  one  man  to  the  no  small  amusement  ot  his  friends." 

On  another  occasion  a  Tory  by  the  name  of  Akerly  came 
to  his  window  intending  to  shoot  him.  Akerly  contemplated 
the  scene  within,  where  the  old  gentleman  sat  reading,  and  his 
wife  quietly  darning  stockings  in  the  corner,  and  recalling  his 
friendship  for  Crane  before  the  great  issue  was  joined,  with 
drew  ;  afterwards  alleging  that  "  Crane  was  so  great  a  friend  to 
his  country,  and  so  sincere  in  his  actions,  that  he  could  not 
shoot  him."  At  another  time  Akerly  laid  in  wait  for  him,  in  a 
field  a  few  rods  west  of  the  house  ;  but  this  time,  also,  his 
heart  failed  him. 

Robert  Hughson,  a  Whig  and  neighbor  of  Crane,  went  out 
one  night  on  the  ridge  east  of  Crane's  house,  and  was  met  by 
three  horsemen,  well  armed.  They  enquired  whether  one 
Capt.  John  Crane  lived  in  the  house,  to  which  they  pointed. 
Hughson  answered  in  the  affirmative.  They  told  him  he  must 
go  with  them  and  assist  in  robbing  Crane  of  $100  which  the 
latter  had  concealed  in  a  bin  of  grain  in  the  upper  part  of  an 
old  log  house  in  the  rear  of  his  dwelling.  Hughson  replied 


446  APPENDIX  A. 

that  Capt.  Crane  had  four  men  with  him,  well  armed,  and  that 
before  they  could  get  the  money  some  of  them  would  have  to 
bite  the  dust,  and  so  succeeded  in  magnifying  the  force  and 
fighting  disposition  of  the  old  Whig,  that  they  departed  with 
out  making  the  attempt. 

Some  time  before  the  Revolution,  Jabez  Berry  came  from 
Cape  Cod,  and  located  about  a  mile  north  of  Lake  Mahopac. 
Berry  was  an  expert  at  boxing.  Before  leaving  Cape  Cod  he 
had  the  reputation  of  being  number  one  in  the  "  manly  art  of 
self  defense."  Soon  after  he  settled  in  this  town,  a  celebrated 
pugilist  made  inquiry  after  Berry,  and  offered  to  bet  he  could 
flog  him.  A  friend  of  the  latter  accepted  the  challenge,  and  a 
third  having  been  chosen  as  the  second  of  the  boasting  bully, 
the  trio  set  out  for  Berry's  residence,  which  they  reached  just 
as  that  gentleman  and  his  wife  were  sitting  down  to  breakfast. 

Without  ceremony  the  boxer  entered  the  house,  and  thus 
addressed  him:  "Are  you  the  man  they  call  Jabez  Berry?" 
"  Yes-sir-ee,  and  always  has  been,"  was  the  reply.  "  Well  sir, 
I  have  come  all  the  way  from  Cape  Cod  to  flog  you!"  "  Ah, 
indeed,"  replied  Berry,  "  then  you  are  entitled  to  a  few 
striking  toktns  of  my  regard  as  a  reward  for  the  pains  you  may 
suffer  before  you  get  back."  Out  they  went  into  the  door- yard, 
where  Berrry  flogged  his  Cape  Cod  antagonist  until  the  latter 
was  satisfied.  He  accepted  half  the  wager,  and  applied  it  to 
curing  the  wounds  of  his  rival,  who  in  a  week's  time,  was  in  a 
condition  to  take  his  journey  homeward. 

About  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  a  Congrega 
tional  Church  was  organized  in  the  vicinity  of  Carmel  Village, 
and  a  log  building  erected  in  which  to  worship.  The  Society 
was  familiarly  known  as  "  Gregorys  Parish,"  after  the  name  of 
their  first  minister.  No  authentic  records  of  the  church  are 
found  until  1792,  when  a  new  organization  was  made,  and  a 
more  commodious  edifice  built  upon  the  ground  now  known 
as  the  Gilead  Burying  Ground,  a  little  more  than  a  mile  south 
of  Carmel.  The  following  list  of  members  appears  in  the 
records  of  that  time  :  John  Ambler.  Matthew  Beals,  Philetus 


APPENDIX  A.  447 

Phillips,  Zebulon  Phillips,  John  Merrick,  John  McClean,  Jabez 
Trusdell,  Rebecca  Hopkins,  Mary  Hopkins,  Desire  Store, 
Mary  Haynes,  Lucy  Cullen,  Bethia  Trusdell.  Esther  Phillips, 
Elizabeth  Merrick.  At  a  meeting  held  Dec.  c;th,  of  that  year, 
it  was  resolved  that  the  name  be  changed  from  Gregorys  Parish 
to  "  Gileacl,"  by  which  name  it  has  since  been  known. 

February  iSth,  1804,  Enoch  Crosby,  the  alleged  reality  of 
the  fictitious  hero  of  "  Cooper's  Spy,"  and  so  well  known  for 
the  aid  he  rendered  his  country  in  its  time  of  trial,  was  elected 
deacon.*  In  1834  the  church  assumed  the  Presbyterian  form 
of  government,  connecting  itself,  June  3,  1835,  with  the  Pres 
bytery  of  Bedford.  In  the  year  1837,  the  society  erected  their 
present  house  of  worship  in  the  village  of  Carmel. 

In  1753  Elisha  Cole  emigrated  from  Cape  Cod  to  this  place. 
He  was  a  Baptist  preacher  of  some  talent,  and  the  father  of 
seven  sons  and  five  daughters.  Two  of  the  sons  and  one  son- 
in-law  were  preachers,  and  another  son  was  a  very  active 
deacon  of  this  church  for  nearly  forty  years.  The  Mount 
Carmel  Baptist  Church  was  organized  about  the  year  1770, 
and  was,  for  several  years,  without  a  house  of  worship.  During 
the  summer,  meetings  were  held  in  the  open  air;  in  the  winter 
season,  they  were  held  in  private  houses.  As  early  as  1773, 
the  church  enjoyed  the  services  of  Elder  Nathan  Cole,  a  son 
of  Elisha  Cole,  who  for  thirty  years  preached  to  this  people. 

Some  time  between  1780  and  1785  a  building  was  bought 
and  moved  upon  the  grounds  of  this  society.  It  was  a  frame 
building,  with  no  inside  walls,  and  without  any  pulpit.  The 
seats  were  benches  with  no  backs.  It  was  in  this  house  that 
the  church  worshiped  at  the  time  of  the  first  preserved  record, 
which  is  dated  October  16,  1790,  or  twenty  years  after  the 
organization  of  the  church.  At  that  time  the  church  embraced 
the  territory  now  occupied  by  the  Carmel,  Red  Mills,  Putnam 
Valley,  First  Kent,  Second  Kent,  and  Patterson  Churches. 

June  25,  1791,  the  church  licensed  William  Warren,  father 
of  the  Rev.  John  Warren  ;  he  was  afterwards  ordained  to  the 


448  APPENDIX  A. 

ministry  at  the  church  in  Danbury.  The  following  record  was 
made  December  12,  1791: 

"  The  church  agreed  to  make  up  by  a  committee  £12  for 
the  support  of  a  hired  man  [Elder  Nathan  Cole]  for  the  ensu 
ing  year."  In  1793,  the  membership  was  one  hundred  and 
fifteen.  About  this  time  a  division  arose  in  the  church, 
because  that  body  neglected  to  support  their  poor.  The 
matter  was  referred  to  a  council,  who  advised  the  church  to 
unite  in  love,  and  labor  together  for  the  peace  of  Zion.  April 
4,  1795,  Joseph  Arnold  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel, 
and  in  April  of  the  following  year,  the  first  baptism  mentioned 
in  the  record  occurred. 

During  the  year  1/96,  another  rupture  took  place  '"on 
account  of  the  superfluous  dress,  and  the  holding  of  posts  of 
civil  and  military  office  in  earthly  states,  by  certain  members." 
Notwithstanding  this  variance  of  opinion,  large  additions  were 
made  to  both  divisions  of  the  church  during  the  year.  The- 
following  is  on  record  :  "  Resolved;  That  our  dissenting  breth 
ren  who  withdrew  from  the  church  on  account  of  fashionable 
dress,  and  the  holding  of  posts  of  honor,  both  civil  and  military, 
be  allowed  the  privilege  of  occupying  the  meeting  house  one- 
half  of  the  time."  The  following  is  a  record  verbatim  et  liter 
ati  ui  : 

the  13  ^  the  curch  Met  a  Cording  To  a  Pint  Ment  at  the 
Fabruwairy  v  Metinhous  and  open  Metm  by  singin  an  Prayin 
1802.  )  the  church  chos  a  Moderator  and  Requre  after 
the  minds  of  the  Brethein  and  fond  a  Mather  peos  a  Mongst 
them  the  church  a  gread  To  meat  To  the  Meat  inhous  for 
Meatins  after  this  at  present  and  so  concluded  By  Prer. 

The  record  states  that  meetings  were  held  a  part  of  the 
time  at  private  houses,  to  accommodate  the  halt,  the  poor  and 
the  blind.  In  Dec.,  1802,  the  church  put  the  brethren  under 
admonition  for  joining  the  Masons.  After  that  year,  Elder 
Ebenezer  Cole  became  the  sole  preacher  for  the  church,  and 
received  for  his  salary  about  $30  per  annum.  In  1806,  the 
church  entered  this  new  house  of  worship,  which  stood  just 


APPENDIX  A.  449> 

south  of  their  present  one.  This  was  an  improvement  on  the 
first,  yet  it  never  was  warmed  by  artificial  means.  Lewis 
Evans  and  Elisha  Booth  were  licensed  about  this  time. 

During  the  spring  of  1818,  Elder  Daniel  Wildman  came 
among  them.  The  first  fruits  of  a  great  revival  were  gath 
ered  in  April  of  that  year.  This  revival  continued  with 
unabated  interest  through  the  summer  and  fall.  From  May 
until  the  close  of  the  year,  one  hundred  and  forty-three  con 
verts  related  their  experience,  and  were  received  by  the  church 
as  candidates  for  baptism.  Elder  Jacob  St.  John  next  sup 
plied  the  pulpit. 

July  9th,  1820,  Rev.  John  Warren  preached  his  first  ser 
mon  to  this  church.  His  pastorate  lasted  nearly  twenty-one 
years ;  during  which  time  he  baptized  between  three  and  four 
hundred.  In  March,  1823,  the  subject  of  church  members 
belonging  to  the  Masonic  order  was  called  up,  and  the  ques 
tion  continued  to  agitate  the  church  for  some  years.  February 
7th,  1829,  a  complaint  was  raised  against  one  of  the  members 
for  walking  uncharitably,  in  playing  the  violin  to  the  grief  of 
the  brethren  and  sisters,  and  he  was  put  under  admonition 
therefor.  September  ist,  1832,  quite  a  number  of  the  brethren 
were  dismissed  for  the  purpose  of  constituting  a  church  at  Red 

Mills. 

In  December,  1835,  a  work  of  grace  commenced,  and  in 
January  of  the  following  year,  upon  entering  their  third  house 
of  worship,  a  special  manifestation  of  God's  power  was  made.* 
For  four  months  there  was  scarcely  a  church  meeting  at  which 
experiences  were  not  related,  and  the  meetings  were  held 
every  two  weeks.  Men  and  women  came  long  distances  on 
foot,  day  and  night,  to  pay  their  vows  to  the  living  God. 
About  eighty  were  added  to  the  church. 

It  is  r^la'ed  that  one  evening  about  the  time  of  the  dedication  of  this,  th'eir  third 


meeting  house,  three  prominent  members  i\ere  riding  homeward,  alone,  each  i 
rate  conveyance.  One  was  upon  the  rond  near  Patterson  :  another  was  in  the 
Southeast.' and  the  third  was  on  the  Cold  Spring  road.  They  were  each  meditat 
cause  of  the  Gospel  amoiig  them,  when  all  at  once  a  sound  of  distant  music  met 
which  seemed  to  corne  from  mid  air,  af  a  poin,-  directly  over  their  new  meet 
This  celestial  melody,  coming  to  them  at  such  distant  localities  at  the  same  h 
night,  and  seeming  to  eminate  from  the  same  point,  was  interpreted  as  at 


scpa- 


\<>  on  the 
heir  ears, 
ig  house. 
nr  oi  the 
ken  from 


Heaven,   that   a   blessing  would  be  poured  "lit  there  among   the  people.    This  prophetic 
ision— if  such  it  was— was  more  than  realized. 

C2 


450  APPENDIX  A. 

January  ist,  1842,  Elder  Warren  closed  his  labors  with  the 
church,  after  serving  them  for  twenty-one  years.  With  this 
year  began  a  revival  under  the  preaching  of  Elders  C.  Brinker- 
ho;f,  E.  C.  Ambler,  and  C.  H.  Underbill,  the  last  named 
becoming  pastor  of  the  church  in  March.  One  hundred  and 
nine  names  were  added  to  the  church.  At  the  annual  meet 
ing  occurring  June  4th,  two  hundred  and  seventy-four 
members  answered  for  themselves,  one  hundred  and  one 
responded  in  writing,  or  by  friends,  and  only  nine  remained, 
from  whom  no  intelligence  was  directly  received. 

April  ist,  1844,  Elder  Underbill's  pastorate  ceased,  and  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Aaron  Perkins,  who  continued  with 
them  until  January,  1845.  Bro.  Jonathan  Cole,  a  licentiate, 
supplied  the  pulpit  most  of  the  time  until  August,  when  the 
church  settled  Elder  J.  M.  Coley.  With  the  beginning  of  1846 
a  revival  commenced,  under  the  ministry  of  Elder  Coley, 
which  resulted  in  the  addition  to  the  church  by  baptism  of 
twenty-eight.  Daring  the  year  1848  the  church  was  sadly 
disturbed  by  contentions ;  and  pastor  and  people,  to  a  lamen  - 
table  degree,  seem  to  have  lost  sight  of  the  great  work  of  the 
Gospel.  This  state  of  things  continued  until  the  termination 
of  the  pastorship  of  Elder  Coley,  which  took  place  April  ist, 
1849.  He  has  been  succeeded  by  Elders  C.  B.  Keyes,  John 
Seage,  D.  T.  Hill,  A.  Perkins,  Otis  Saxton,  and  W.  S.  Clapp, 
who  is  the  present  pastor. 

KENT. 

Kent  was  formed  as  "  Frederickstown,"  March  yth,  1788. 
Its  name  was  changed  to  "  Frederick"  March  lyth,  1795,  arjd 
to  Kent  April  15,  1817.  Frederickstown  Precinct  received  its 
name  from  Frederick  Phihpse.  The  town  received  its  present 
name  from  the  Kent  families,  who  were  early  settlers.  Carmel 
and  a  part  of  Patterson  were  taken  off  in  1795.  Its  surface  in 
the  eastern  part  is  broken  by  hills,  and  in  the  west  by  steep 
and  rocky  mountain  peaks  separated  by  deep  ravines. 
Smalley  Hill  is  the  highest  peak.  The  west  and  middle 


.APPENDIX  A.  45I 

branches  of  the  Croton,  the  Horse  Pond  and  Pine  Pond 
Brooks,  are  the  principal  streams.  The  principal  bodies  of 
water  are  White,  Pine,  Barretts,  China,*  Forge,  and  Drews 
Ponds,  and  Lake  Sagamore.  Forge  Pond  was  so-called 
because  a  forge  was  erected  near  the  outlet  at  its  western  end, 
about  sixty  years  ago.  Farmers  Mills,  Coles  Mills,  and 
Ludingtonville,  are  hamlets.  A  boarding  house  was  several 
years  ago  erected  on  the  borders  of  White  Pond,  by  one 
Ketcham,  of  mowing  machine  notoriety.  It  was  about  forty 
feet  in  length,  cheaply  put  up,  and  intended  only  for  summer 
use.  It  stood  in  a  romantic  spot  on  the  eastern  shore  of  the 
pond.  Its  builder  believed  the  pure  air  and  beautiful  scenery 
of  the  locality  would  .attract  hundreds  of  visitors  to  the  spot. 
The  undertaking  was  not  a  pronounced  success  ;  and  pecunia 
ry  embarrassment  overtaking  .the  proprietor  of  this  "  rural 
retreat,"  the  structure  was  demolished,  and  the  materials 
devoted  to  other  purposes. 

This  town  was  settled  by  the  Boyds,  Smalleys,  Wixons, 
Farringtons,  Burtons,  Carters,  Merritts,  Barretts,  Ludingtons, 
and  a  few  others  from  Massachusetts  and  Westchester. 
Zachariah  Merritt  located  here  about  1750,  and  built  a  log 
house  near  Stillman  Boyd's.  He  planted  himself  in  the  midst 
of  the  Indians  who  had  a  settlement  at  this  place.  Arrow 
heads  are  frequently  plowed  up  in  the  vicinity.  Merritt 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  British,  and  his  land  was  confiscated. 

The  Boyds  are  of  Scotch  descent.  Ebenezer  Boyd  settled 
in  the  town  about  1780.  Joseph  Farrington  was  about  the 
first  settler  at  Farmers  Mills.  During  the  "  hard  winter,"  one 
Burton  put  up  the  first  grist  mill  at  that  place.  The  Wixons 
came  in  about  the  year  )  760,  locating  east  of  the  Boyds.  The 
Coles  were  likewise  early  settlers. 

Col.  Henry  "  Luddinton"  [Ludington]  settled  in  this  town 
about  1760.  He  settled  in  the  northwest  part,  at  a  place 
known  in  the  Revolution  as  "  Luddinton's  Mills,"  now 

*  So  named  from  the  fact  that  a  basket  of  china-ware  was  thrown  into  it  by  a  wife, 
to  spite  her  drunken  husband. 


452  APPENDIX    A. 

Ludingtonville.  He  was  one  of  the  noble  defenders  of  our 
country  in  the  days  of  her  struggle  for  independence.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  the  "  Fredericksburgh  Records :" 

"  April  ye  7th  Day  and  first  Tuesday  1747.  Matthew  Roe, 
Clark.  Supervisor  Chosen  Samuel  Field.  Constables  Chosen 
viz :  Joseph  Jacocks,  George  Huson,  John  Dickeson,  William 
Bruster.  Nathan  Taylor  Senr  Collector.  Joseph  Lane  Seessory 
Capt.  James  Dickeson  Seessor." 

The  Putnam  County  Poor  House  is  located  in  this  town,  a 
cut  of  which  is  given  in  this  connection. 


rtitnam  County  Poor  House. 

About  a  mile  from  the  County  House  is  a  valley  through 
which  a  branch  of  the  Croton  passes.  A  road  crossed  this 
stream  by  a  rustic  bridge,  near  to  which  are  the  ruins  of  a 
house.  Connected  with  this  locality  is  the  following  legend  : 
Years  ago,  when  belief  in  the  supernatural  was  more  general  than 
now,  a  farmer  was  returning  from  a  visit  to  a  neighbor's,  late 
one  evening.  He  had  occasion  to  pass  over  this  road  ;  and 
when  near  this  bridge,  he  met  a  company  of  six  men,  clad  in 
white,  who  were  walking  very  rapidly,  and  whom  he  recognized 
as  residents  of  the  vicinity.  He  spoke  to  them,  but  they  made 
no  reply,  and  did  not  appear  to  even  notice  him.  On  his 
arrival  home  he  mentioned  the  occurrence  to  his  family,  when 
many  conjectures  were  made  concerning  the  purposes  of  the 
party  in  being  abroad  at  that  time  of  night.  What  was  more 
mysterious  still,  when  inquiry  was  made  next  morning,  it  was 
ascertained  that  every  one  of  the  six  men  were  at  their  homes 
at  the  hour  mentioned  by  the  farmer,  and  not  one  of  them  had 
been  abroad  during  the  whole  evening.  It  was  surmised  the 
farmer  had  concocted  the  story  for  his  own  amusement ;  but 
when  the  party  of  six  sickened  and  died,  one  after  the  other, 


APPENDIX    A.  453 

in  the  space  of  a  few  weeks,  it  was  interpreted  as  a  premoni 
tory  vision,  in  which  the  death  of  the  six  men  was  foreboded. 


PATTERSON. 

Patterson  was  formed  from  "  Frederickstown"  and  South 
east,  March  lyth,  1795.  At  the  time  of  its  organization  it 
was  called  Franklin,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Franklin  ;  its  name  was 
changed  to  Patterson  April  6th,  1808,  after  a  family  of  early 
settlers  by  that  name.  The  back  short  lot  of  Beverly  Robinson 
embraced  nearly  its  whole  area.  Its  surface  is  hilly ;  but, 
with  a  few  exceptions,  rhe  hills  are  arable  to  their  summits. 
The  principal  streams  are  the  east  branch  of  the  Croton  River 
and  its  tributaries,  Quaker,  Birch,  and  Muddy  Brooks. 

This  town,  says  Blake,  was  principally  settled  by  people  of 
Scotch  extraction.  A  few  came  from  Westchester  and  New 
York  City,  but  the  greater  number  were  from  Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut.  A  large  number  of  families  from  Cape  Cod 
came  into  this  and  adjoining  towns  of  Southeast  and  Carmel, 
about  the  same  time. 

Previous  to  1750,  two  men,  by  the  name  of  Bobbin  and 
Wilmot,  settled  at  "  The  City."  The  former  was  a  blacksmith 
and  the  latter  a  saddler.  When  the  war  broke  out  they  both 
went  to  New  York  and  joined  the  British.  About  this  time 
Capt.  Daniel  Heecock.  and  a  Mr.  Towner,  made  a  settlement 
in  the  town.  Asa  Haynes,  who  had  served  three  years  in  the 
French  War,  came  at  its  termination  to  this  town,  and  settled 
at  the  residence  of  the  late  Reed  Akin,  about  a  mile  east  of 
Havilands  [now  Akins]  Corners.  Daniel  Close  settled  at  the 
latter  place  in  1748.  About  the  same  time  the  Joneses  and 
Crosbys  settled  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  Roswell 
Wilcox  located  about  a  mile  south  of  "  The  City"  at  an  early 
-day. 

A  few  years  previous  to  the  French  War,  Matthew  Patterson, 
•grandfather  of  the  late  James  Patterson,  came  from  Scotland  to 
New  York  City,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  enlisted  as  a  captain 


454  APPENDIX  A. 

of  a  company  of  artificers  in  the  British  Army,  under  General 
Ambercrombie.  After  the  war  he  went  back  to  the  city,  and 
a  few  years  later  removed  to  the  residence  of  the  above 
mentioned  James  Patterson.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State 
Legislature  nine  years  in  succession,  and  was  several  times 
elected  County  Judge.  When  a  member  of  the  Legislature, 
Col.  Beverly  Robinson's  land  in  this  county  was  confiscated  ; 
and  having  voted  in  favor  of  the  measure,  he  refused  to 
become  a  purchaser  under  the  act ;  but  subsequently  purchased 
1 60  acres,  on  which  the  Patterson  mansion  stands,  from  one 
who  had  derived  his  title  from  the  State.  The  McClains, 
Grants,  Fraziers,  and  Flemmings,  were  early  residents. 

About  the  same  time  one  Captain  Kidd,  who  likewise 
came  from  Scotland,  settled  a  short  distance  east  of  Patterson 
Station.  His  monument — or  a  portion  at  least — is  standing 
in  the  church  yard  near  the  Episcopal  Church.  On  it  is  the 
representation  of  a  full-rigged  ship  in  full  sail,  under  which  is 
the  following  poetic  inscription,  now  nearly  undecipherable  : 

By  Boreas'  blasts  and  Neptune's  waves. 

We  were  tossed  to  and  fro  ; 
Now  well  escaped  from  all  their  rage, 

We  anchor  here  below. 
Safely  we  ride  in  triumph  here, 

With  many  of  our  fleet ; 
Till  the  signal  calls  to  weigh  again, 

Our  Admiral  Christ  to  meet. 

Before  the  Harlem  Railroad  was  built,  the  village  of 
Patterson  was  located  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of 
the  depot,  and  was  then  known  as  "  The  City."  During  the 
Revolution,  and  previous,  it  was  called  Fredericksburgh.  The 
post-office  was  formerly  located  here,  but  was  removed  to 
Havilands  Corners  soon  after  1840,  by  Frederick  Stone. 

"  Four  Corners"  was  a  bustling  little  hamlet  at  the  intersec 
tion  of  the  roads  near  the  present  Baptist  Church ;  but  was 
afterwards  called  Towners,  "  from  James  Towner,  who  lived 
there,  and  who  kept  a  public  house." 

''Cranberry  Hill,"  says  Blake,  "is  a  small  eminence  about 
half  a  mile  east  of  Judge  Stone's  residence,  over  which  runs, 


APPENDIX  A.  455 

the  Birch  road.  It  lies  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  and  is 
partly  cultivated.  Cranberries  grow  on  it — hence  its  name." 

"  Pine  Island"  is  an  eminence  rising  abruptly  from  the 
centre  of  the  Great  Swamp.  This  swamp  traverses  the  whole 
length  of  the  town,  and  is  about  a  mile  wide.  The  island 
covers  about  thirty  acres,  and  towers  about  two  hundred  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  swamp.  It  formerly  abounded  in  pinesy 
whence  it  derives  its  name.  It  was  once  the  abode  of  a 
colored  man,  who  lived  for  years  a  solitary  life  in  a  little  cabin 
which  he  had  constructed. 

Beverly  Robinson,  Jim.,  who  was  Lieut. -Col.  of  "  the 
Loyal  American  Regiment,"  commanded  by  his  father  in  the 
British  Army,  occupied  a  farm  in  this  town  located  in  Havi- 
land  Hollow,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution.  It- 
was  appropriated  by  the  Commissioners  of  Sequestration  as  a 
rendezvous  for  military  stores  and  keeping  cattle,  which  were 
collected  for  the  use  of  the  American  Army. 

MONDAY  AFTERNOON,  April  2ist,  1777. 

The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  Present — - 
Col.  VanCortlanclt,  Vice  President;  Messrs.  VanCortlamlt, 
Harper,  Bancker,  Dunscomb,  and  Gen.  Scott,  of  New  York ; 
Messrs.  Harper  and  Newkirk,  of  Tryon.  Colonel  De  Witt, 
Major  Tappen  and  Mr.  Cantine,  of  Ulster  ;  Messrs.  Abraham 
Yates,  Bleecker,  Cuyler,  Ten  Broeck,  Gansevoort,  and  Col. 
Livingston,  of  Albany  ;  Mr.  G.  Livingston,  of  Duchess  ;  Col. 
Williams  and  Major  Webster,  of  Charlotte  ;  MCSFTS.  Smith, 
Tredwell  and  Hobart,  of  Suffolk;  Mr.  Lockwood,  Judge  Gra 
ham  and  Col.  Drake,  of  Westchester  ;  Mr.  Stevens,  of  Cum 
berland,  and  Mr.  Clark,  and  Col.  Allison,  of  Orange. 

Gen.  Scott,  to  whom  was  referred  the  letter  from  Hugh 
Hughes,  dep.  quarter-master-general,  relative  to  the  farm  of 
Beverly  Pvobmson,  Jim.,  reported  as  follows,  to  wit  :  That  they 
are  of  opinion  that  as  a  very  considerable  lodgment  of  stores 
in  the  quarter-master's  department  is  formed  at  Morrison's 
Mills,  in  Freclericksburgh,  in  the  county  of  Duchess,  to  and 
from  which  there  will  be  much  carriage,  a  proper  farm  in  its 
vicinity,  for  supporting  the  cattle  that  may  from  time  to  time 
be  employed  in  that  department  of  service,  will  be  absolutely 
necessary,  and  that  the  farm  lately  in  the  occupation  of 


45  6  APPENDIX  A. 

Beverly  Robinson,  Jim.,  will  be  very  convenient  for  that 
purpose.  It  is  therefore  the  opinion  of  your  committee,  that 
the  commissioners  of  sequestration  in  the  County  of  Duchess 
be  directed  to  lease  the  said  farm  for  one  year  to  the  said 
deputy  quarter-ma^ter-general,  at  such  rent  as  they  shall  think 
proper  notwithstanding  any  treaty  for  the  same  that  may  have 
been  in  agitation  between  the  said  commissioners  and  any 
individual  person,  for  the  use  or  occupation  of  said  farm. 

Resolved,  That  this  Convention  doth  agree  with  their 
Committee,  in  their  said  report. 

"  At  the  first  Town  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabi 
tants  of  Franklin,  held  at  the  house  of  James  Phillips  on 
Tuesday,  the  yth  day  of  April,  1795,  voted,  That  Samuel 
Cornwall  be  Town  Clerk,  and  Samuel  Towner  be  Supervisor  ; 
Benjamin  Haviland,  Nehemiah  Jones,  and  Stephen  Heayt, 
Assessors;  David  Hickok,  Senr.,  and  Jabez  Elvvell,  Overseers 
of  the  Poor;  Solomon  Crane,  Elisha  Brown,  and  Abner 
Crosby,  Commissioners  of  Highways ;  Abel  Hodges,  Collector 
and  Constable ;  and  David  Barnum,  Constable.  Voted  that 
the  next  Town  Meeting  be  held  at  the  Presbyterian  Meeting 
House.  Also  that  the  sum  of  £60  be  raised  for  the  main 
tenance  of  the  Poor  of  this  town." 

A  Special  Town  Meeting  was  held  April  23d,  1795,  at  the 
Presbyterian  Meeting  House  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  a 
delegate  to  meet  other  delegates  chosen  by  other  Towns  to 
establish  a  line  of  division  between  the  Town  of  Franklin, 
Frederick,  Southeast  and  Carmel. 

At  a  Special  Town  Meeting  of  the  Freeholders  and  Inhabi 
tants  of  Franklin  in  DUCHESS  County,  held  at  the  Presbyterian 
Meeting  House  on  Thursday,  the  26th  of  January,  1798, 
agreeable  to  legal  notice  given,  respecting  a  division  of 
DUCHESS  County,  Voted,  that  DUCHESS  County  remain  in  its 
present  situation  without  any  Division,  unanimous.  Voted 
that  the  Town  Clerk  send  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  to 
Samuel  Towner  to  lay  before  the  Legislature,  when  most 
convenient,  f  A  similar  vote  was  taken  at  the  same  place  in  the  fol 
lowing  year,  which  shows  the  subject  was  considerably  agitated.] 


APPENDIX  A.  457 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the  6th  day  of  April, 
1808,  the  name  of  this  Town  was  changed  to  that  of 
Patterson. 

On  the  last  Tuesday  of  April,  1801,  Stephen  Van  Rensse- 
laer  received  65  votes  for  Governor,  and  George  Clinton  29. 

From  1795  to  1810  inclusive,  Town  Meetings  were  held  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  i8u,  it  was  held  in  the  Baptist 
Meeting  House,  at  Four  Corners.  Excerpts  from  records  : 

Know  all  men  by  the  Presents,  that  I,  the  subscriber,  have 
purchased  of  P.  Alien  a  certain  negro  man  for  life  by  the 
name  of  Jack ;  but  the  subscriber  doth  promise  and  agree 
that  if  the  said  negro  doth  faithfully  serve  him  the  subscriber, 
his  heirs  or  assignees,  for  the  term  of  eight  years,  that  at  the 
expiration  of  the  said  term  of  time,  he  shall  be  free  from  the 
subscriber,  his  heirs  and  assignees,  and  all  persons  whatever — 
Provided  always  this  present  writing  is  upon  the  express 
condition  that  should  the  said  negro  Jack  run  away,  or  in  any 
wise  behave  himself  in  an  unbecoming  manner,  so  that  the 
subscriber  shall  be  put  to  any  cost  or  trouble  on  the  said 
Jack's  account,  that  then  this  present  writing  shall  be  null  and 
void,  and  of  none  effect.  In  witness  whereof  I  have  here 
unto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  eleventh  day  of  March,  1794. 

SAMUEL  CORNWALL. 

FRANKLIN,  April  ist  1803. 

I,  the  subscriber,  do  hereby  certify,  that  on  the  2ist  day  of 
July,'  in  the  year  1802,  there  was  born  in  my  family  a  male 
negro  child,  which  I  have  named  Frank. 

MATTHEW  PATTERSON. 

FRANKLIN,  May  igth,  1803. 

This  may  certify,  that  Sill,  a  slave,  was  delivered  of  a 
female  child  the  22d  day  of  August  last.  Said  slave  is  the 
property  of  Sarah  Patterson,  wife  of  John  Patterson. 

JOHN  PATTERSON. 

We,  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  Town  of  Kent,  in 
the  County  of  Putnam,  do  hereby  certify,  own  and  acknow 
ledge,  that  A.  Disbrow,  his  wife  and  children,  are  legally 
.settled  in  the  town  of  Kent,  aforesaid.  In  witness  whereof,  &c. 

April  28th,  1818  SAMUEL  TOWNSEND,  )    Overseers 

MOSES  MEAD,  j      of  Poor 


458  APPENDIX  A. 

This    may   certify  that  I,   Silas  Whitney,  of  the  Town   of" 
Patterson,    do  by    these    presents  forever  manumit  a  certain 
colored  woman  Rosannah,  wife  of  William  Williams. 

SILAS  WHITNEY. 

Above  a  century  since,  South  Salem,  South  East,  Patterson, 
Bedford,  and  Rye,  were  under  one  Presbytery.  About  the 
year  1720  William  Tennent  preached  in  East  Chester.  He 
was  from  Ireland,  and  was  originally  an  Episcopalian.  Having 
openly  professed  a  change  of  religious  belief,  he  was  accepted 
by  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia.  About  twenty  years  subsequent 
to  this,  Samuel  Sackett,  from  New  Brunswick,  administered  in 
various  parts  of  Westchester,  and  there  is  good  reason  for 
the  belief  that  he  occasionally  preached  in  Patterson.  The 
third  was  Dr.  John  Smith,  who  administered  at  Rye,  White 
Plains,  Sing  Sing,  &c.  About  1740,  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  grand 
father  of  Chancellor  Kent,  was  stationed  over  the  First  Church 
in  Philipse  Precinct,  afterward  known  as  Kent's  Parish. 
About  the  same  time,  Elnathan  Gregory  and  Ebenezer 
Knibloe  were  pastors  over  the  church  at  West  Philippi,  now 
Carmel ;  and  Joseph  Peck  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Freder- 
icksburgh,  afterward  Franklin,  and  now  known  as  Patterson, 
He  preached  also  at  Salem,  now  South  Salem.  Solomon 
Mead  was  another  of  the  early  preachers. 

In  1762,  Revs.  Elisha  Kent,  Joseph  Peck,  and  Solomon 
Mead,  met  at  Southeast  Parsonage,  and  formed  the  first 
Presbytery  in  the  County  of  Duchess,  and  which  was 
recognized  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia.  -  In 
1774,  the  church  of  Carmel  joined  the  Presbytery,  then  known 
as  the  Duchess  County  Presbytery. 

The  first  Presbyterian  Meeting  House  in  the  town  of 
Patterson,  was  constructed  of  logs,  and  stood  on  the  rise  of 
ground  near  the  residence  of  Coleman  Haines.  A  burial 
ground  was  attached  to  it.  One  of  the  early  pastors  of  this 
church,  David  Close,  who  had  been  placed  over  the  church  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Hudson,  and  who  died  in  1783,  was  buried 
in  this  ancient  graveyard  in  the  rear  of  the  log  building.  The; 


APPENDIX  A.  459^ 

monument  that  marked  his  grave,  of  red  free-stone,  was  after 
ward  placed  in  the  new  grounds  near  the  present  church 
edifice,  where  it  may  be  seen,  with  its  quaint  inscription  as- 
legible  as  when  first  set  up. 

There  are  authentic  records  to  show  that  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Southeast  was  organized  in  1730,  and  that  a  log 
church  was  erected  about  the  same  time.  Though  the  absence 
of  precise  data  leaves  it  partially  a  matter  of  conjecture,  yet  it 
is  believed  the  existence  of  the  society  at  Patterson  is  nearly 
or  quite  coeval  with  the  one  at  Southeast,  and  that  the  log 
church  on  the  hill  near  "  The  City,"  was  built  about  a  century 
and  a  half  ago.  The  fact  that  its  first  pastor,  Rev.  Joseph 
Peck,  while  in  charge  of  this  society,  took  a  prominent  part  in 
the  matters  relating  to  the  early  Presbytery  in  Duchess 
County,  seems  to  confirm  this  statement. 

The  second  house  of  worship  was  built  in  1775,  and  stood 
a  few  yards  west  of  the  present  church  edifice.  It  had  no 
tower  or  spire,  and  was  seated  with  square  pews.  The 
celebrated  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  grandfather  of  the  Chancellor, 
used  to  preach  here  occasionally.  The  society  now  belongs 
to  the  Westchester  Presbytery.  Revs.  Jackson,  Perkins, 
Phelps,  and  others,  are  mentioned  in  the  early  records  as 
having  been  pastors  over  this  church.  They  also  mention  one 
General  Samuel  Augustus  Barker,  and  Captain  Abner  Osborn, 
who  were  once  members  of  the  church.  The  present  place  of 
worship  was  erected  in  1834,  and  an  extension  added  to  it  a 
few  years  ago. 

The  Baptist  Church  of  Patterson  was  organized  Dec.  ist, 
1790,  as  the  Baptist  Church  of  Frederickstown.  They  first 
worshiped  in  a  log  meeting  house,  which  was  located  about 
i  J  miles  north  of  the  present  house  of  worship.  Elder  Enoch- 
Ferris  was  the  first  teacher,  remaining  until  Nov.  23d,  1793. 
He  baptized  23  persons  during  his  stay.  Elder  Simon  Smith' 
was  called  in  May  1795,  and  remained  awhile  with  them.  After 
ward  they  sent  a  request  to  the  surrounding  churches  beseech 
ing  the  brethren  to  "  send  their  Elders  to  preach  for  them  as 


460  APPENDIX  A. 

oft  as  they  can."  One  brother  was  much  grieved  because 
of  the  "  superfluity  of  garb."  About  this  time  the  name  of  the 
church  was  changed  to  "Franklin  Baptist  Church,"  and  Elder 
Moses  Phinamber  preached  one  half  the  time. 

The  history  of  the  church  from  1808  to  1812  is  full  of 
trouble.  A  Baptist  sister  declared  "  the  Baptist  bretheren  were 
more  carnal  than  the  Presbyterians  or  Methodists."  Six 
dollars  and  twenty-five  cents  were  raised  for  the  minister.  In 
1812  the  church  took  its  present  name,  occuping  its  new 
building  on  the  present  site.  Elders  St.  John,  Adams  and 
Warren,  served  them  as  pastors — the  latter  taking  charge  in 
1818.  March  1836,  their  third  house  was  dedicated.  Present 
house  built  in  1866,  cost  $12,500.  First  Woman's  Rights 
question  was  debated  in  1825,  when  by  vote  the  women  were 
allowed  to  speak. 

Not  far  west  of  the  village  of  Patterson,  there  stands  an 
old  house  which  years  ago  had  the  reputation  of  being  haunted. 
The  witch,  or  hobgoblin — or  whatever  else  the  disturbing 
spirit  may  have  been — seemed  to  entertain  a  special  spite 
against  the  eaves-trough.  No  sooner  was  the  trough  placed  in 
position,  than  the  ghost  was  sure  to  hurl  it  to  the  ground. 
Finally  it  was  determined  to  secure  it  in  place  by  means  of 
iron  fastenings.  When  the  workmen  were  about  to  lift  the 
trough,  the  hobgoblin  seemed  to  be  aware  of  their  purpose, 
and  endeavored  to  prevent  its  accomplishment.  It  was 
found  necessary  to  bring  into  requisition  the  united  effort  of 
five  men  to  hold  the  trough  in  its  place,  where  it  was  fastened 
so  securely  as  to  defy  the  utmost  effort  of  the  ghost  to 
remove  it. 

Hard  by  this  dwelling,  tradition  says  some  chests  of  gold 
were  burled  by  Capt.  Kidd  and  his  piratical  crew.  Only  a 
few  years  ago  there  were  evidences  of  excavations  here  that 
were  made  by  persons  searching  for  the  treasure.  It  is  stated 
that  while  some  parties  were  digging  in  the  meadow  in  the 
rear  of  the  house,  their  spades  struck  a  hard  substance,  which 
proved  to  be  a  large  and  strong  box,  heavily  ironed.  The  box 


APPENDIX  A.  461 

was  opened,  and  in  it  were  found  a  quantity  of  gold  and  silver 
money,  and  also  the  body  of  a  darkey  chopped  into  pieces 
and  mixed  with  the  specie.  This  so  frightened  them  that 
they  shut  up  the  box,  threw  back  the  earth,  and  fled  from  the 
spot.  On  another  occasion  another  party  were  digging  for 
the  money,  and  their  spades  also  struck  what  appeared  to  be 
an  iron  box.  Success,  thought  they,  was  then  to  crown  their 
search  and  they  redoubled  their  efforts.  To  their  bitter 
disappointment,  however,  the  box  receded  as  fast  as  they  dug  ; 
and  they  were  at  last  forced  to  give  up  the  undertaking. 

A  colored  woman  known  as  "  Black  Soph"  died  in  this 
town  in  the  autumn  of  1876,  at  a  very  advanced  age.  Neither 
she  iror  any  other  person  knew  her  exact  age,  but  the  supposi 
tion  is  it  approximated  one  hundred  years.  She  was  formerly 
a  slave  of  the  Cornwall  family,  and  died  on  the  farm  on  which 
she  had  worked  as  a  slave.  She  was  probably  the  last  person 
living  within  the  counties  of  Duchess  and  Putnam,  who  was  held 
as  a  slave  within  their  limits.  During  the  last  few  years  of  her 
life  she  was  too  feeble  to  work.  Her  personal  appearance  is 
spoken  of  as  being  somewhat  unusual.  One  striking  feature 
was  the  disfigurement  of  her  face  caused  by  two  white  sores, 
one  on  either  cheek. 

Nearly  a  century  since — long  enough  ago  to  give  an  air  of 
antiquity  to  the  story — a  man  died  and  was  buried  in  the  old 
churchyard,  not  far  from  the  Episcopal  Meeting  House  in 
Patterson  village.  A  farmer  living  in  the  vicinity  attended  the 
funeral,  and  assisted  in  the  duties  of  sepulture.  He  then  went 
a  few  miles  further,  to  attend  to  some  business,  and  did  not 
set  out  on  his  return  until  after  dark.  His  way  led  him  by  the 
burial  ground  where  the  man  was  that  day  interred.  As  he 
neared  the  spot  he  heard  low  moans  coming  from  the  enclosure 
which  grew  more  distinct  as  he  approached.  Though  consider 
ably  startled,  he  nevertheless  ventured  near  enough  to  make 
an  observation,  when  to  his  utter  horror  he  saw  the  dead  man 
in  the  act  of  struggling  to  get  out  of  his  grave,  dressed  in  his 
burial  clothes.  After  a  moment's  hesitation  he  started  off  for 


462  APPENDIX  A. 

help,  and  an  examination  was  made  of  the  premises.  Thus 
was  a  first-class  ghost  story  spoiled.  Arriving  at  the  spot  they 
found  a  drunken  man,  wearing  a  long,  white  linen  coat,  who 
had  wandered  among  the  tombs,  and  having  fallen  on  his  back 
between  two  graves  was  unable  to  rise. 

PHILIPSTOWN. 

Philipstown  was  formed  March  7,  1788.  It  is  described  in 
the  Act  as  follows  :  "  And  all  that  part  of  the  County  of 
DUCHESS,  bounded  southerly  by  the  County  of  Westchester, 
westerly  by  Hudson's  River,  northerly  by  the  North  Lands 
granted  to  Adolphus  Philip,  Esq.,  and  easterly  by  the  Long 
Lot,  number  four,  belonging  to  Beverly  Robinson,  shall  be, 
and  hereby  is  erected  into  a  town,  by  the  name  of  Philips- 
town."  Originally  it  embraced  more  than  a  third  of  the 
County,  but  its  territory  has  since  been  diminished  by  the 
erection  of  Putnam  Valley  into  a  separate  township.  A  small 
portion  was  also  taken  off  in  1806,  and  annexed  to  Fishkill. 
Its  name  is  derived  from  the  ancient  Philipse  family.  Its 
surface  is  broken  by  numerous  steep  and  rocky  mountain 
ridges  separated  by  deep  and  narrow  valleys.*  These  moun 
tains  constitute  the  most  elevated  portion  of  the  Highlands. 
Clove  Creek  flows  through  the  north  part  of  the  town,  and 
Canopus  Creek  through  the  northeast  corner.  Foundry, 
Breakneck,  Andreas,  Indian,  and  other  brooks,  flow  through 
narrow  valleys  and  rocky  ravines  into  the  Hudson. 

As  the  organization  of  Putnam  Valley  is  of  a  compara 
tively  recent  date,  the  early  settlement  of  both  towns  will  be 
considered  here.  Thomas  Davenport  came  from  England 
about  the  year  1715,  and  built  the  first  house  at  Cold  Spring. 
He  was  one  of  the  commissioners  for  laying  out  roads  in  what 
is  now  Putnam  County  from  1745  to  1755.  David  Hustis 

*  "  Martlaers  Hack,"  or  Martyrs  TCench,  was  a  short  stretch  of  the  Hudson  just  above 
West  Point,  where  early  navigators  \vtr<*  often  retarded  by  baffling  winds  There  wore  13 
racks,  or  reaches,  on  the  Hudson,  known  as  Horse,  Sailmaker,  Cooks,  Hijfh,  Fox,  Bakers, 
John  Pleasures,  Harts,  Sturgeons,  Fishers,  Fast,  Martlaers  and  Long  lleaches,  the  last 
named  extending  from  Pollopcls  Island  to  Krom  Ellebo^e. 


APPENDIX  A.  463 

•came  over  from  England  in  1730,  and  built  a  log  cabin  about 
.half  a  mile  north  of  where  the  Highland  Church  was  after 
wards  built.  He  settled  down  with  the  Indians  around  him, 
procuring  the  corn,  which  he  first  planted,  from  them.  They 
had  about  one-fourth  of  an  acre  under  cultivation,  the  year 
before,  in  the  vicinity.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Hustis 
family  in  this  town.  He  was  a  tenant-at-will  of  the  patentee  ; 
and  rented  310  acres,  for  which  he  paid  a  yearly  rental  of  ^5. 

John  Rogers  made  a  settlement  about  1730,  on  the  old 
post  road  north  of  Continental  Village.  At  that  time,  hovv- 
•eve-r,  it  was  only  a  path,  used  by  Indians,  leading  from  West- 
•chester  through  the  Highlands  to  Fishkill.  "  Having  built  a 
log  house  sufficiently  large  for  a  country  tavern,  he  was  always 
sure  to  have  a  traveler  for  his  guest  during  the  night  if  one 
reached  the  house  in  the  middle  of  the  afternoon ;  as  none 
ever  departed  on  their  journey  after  that  time,  owing  to  the 
danger  of  traveling  through  the  Highlands  at  night,  and  the 
difficulty  of  threading  such  a  wild,  mountainous,  and  solitary 
path."  He  continued  to  keep  tavern  there  through  the 
French  and  Indian  Wars.  The  road,  which  followed  nearly 
the  Indian  path,  was  cut  through  by  Lord  Louden,  for  convey 
ing  his  baggage,  stores  and  troops,  to  the  north,  to  attack  the 
French  outposts.  James  Stanley,  Thomas  Sarles,  Elijah  and 
Gilbert  Budd,  settled  in  the  vicinity  soon  after  1750.  At  the 
south  end  of  Peekskill  Hollow — now  in  Putnam  Valley — the 
families  of  Dusenberry  and  Adams  settled.  George  and  Nathan 
Lane,  John  Hyatt,  and  a  family  by  the  name  of  Post,  came  in 
here  at  an  early  date. 

The  place  now  called  Tompkins  Corners  was  formerly  known 
as  the  Wiccopee  and  Peekskill  Hollow  Corners.  Wiccopee 
was  the  name  for  an  Indian  tribe  living  near  Shenandoah; 
another  tribe  called  the  Canopus  Indians  lived  in  Westchester, 
near  the  line  of  Putnam,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  hollow  which 
bears  their  name.  These  two  tribes  used  to  pass  up  and  down 
Peekskill  Hollow,  when  visiting  each  other.  The  lower  tribe 
when  asked  by  their  white  neighbors  where  they  were  going, 


464  APPENDIX  A. 

would  reply  "  We're  going  to  see  old  Wiccopee  !"  About  two 
miles  southeast  of  Tompkins  Corners,  Abraham  Smith  made 
a  settlement  about  1760,  purchasing  a  large  tract  of  Beverly 
Robinson.  He  came  from  Long  Island ;  after  surveying  the 
tract,  he  gave  a  farm  to  one  of  his  chain  bearers  for  his 
services.  An  early  settlement  was  made  by  the  Ferris  family, 
from  New  Rochelle,  Westchester  County.  The  ancestor  of 
the  family  came  from  Rochelle,  in  France. 

At  a  Town  Meeting  in  Philipsis  Precinct,  on  —  day  of 
April,  1772,  the  following  officers  were  chosen  :  Jon  Crumpton 
Clerk ;  Beverly  Robinson,  Supervisor ;  Joseph  Lane  and 
Caleb  Nelson,  Assessors ;  William  Dusenburry,  Collector ; 
Israel  Taylor  and  Isaac  Davenport,  Constables  ;  Justus  Nelson, 
and  Cornelius  Tompkins,  Poormaster. 

*•  May  nth,  1772.  John  Cavery  Desires  his  mark  to  Bee 
Entered  In  this  Book  Which  I  have  which  is  a  Crop  on  the 
near  ear  and  a  Slit  in  the  same  and  the  off  Ear  a  Hoi  and  a 
half  Penny  and  the  Half  Penny  on  the  under  side." 

"May  the  loth,  in  the  year  of  1784.  Then  we  the 
Comishners  Laid  out  a  Road  from  Calip  Nelsons  to  his  Lan- 
don  Beginin  at  his  house  Ceepin  as  near  the  South  of  the 
Brook  as  near  the  Brook  as  Connevent  as  Can  for  us 

"  E  Lijah  Budd,  hendrick  poast,  Isaac  Rodes." 

Cold  Spring  is  the  largest  village  in  Putnam  County,  and 
the  only  incorporated  one  within  it.  The  act  incorporative 
was  passed  April  22d,  1846.  A  portion  of  the  west  end  of  the 
village  stands  upon  ground  where  was  formerly  a  bay.  It 
takes  its  name  from  a  spring  of  water  which  is  unusually  cold, 
located  on  the  line  of  the  high  and  low  grounds  of  the  village. 
This  village  is  noted  as  being  the  birth  place  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Duncan,  of  the  United  States  Army,  who  rendered 
signal  service  on  the  bloody  fields  of  Mexico.  The  old  house 
in  which  he  was  born  was  accidentally  burned  down  in  1841. 
Nelsonville  is  only  a  continuation  of  Cold  Spring  Village. 

Near  the  latter  place,  in  a  secluded  vale  at  the  foot  of  Old 
Bull  Hill,  nestles  a  beautiful  cemetery.  Among  the  marble 
slabs  there  marking  the  graves  of  the  departed,  is  a  little  one 
erected  to  the  memory  of  a  boy  six  years  old,  who  one  cold 


APPENDIX   A.  465 

winter's  day  wandered  away  into  the  deep  woods  adjacent  and 
perished  there.  He  was  last  seen  late  in  the  afternoon,  with 
some  playmates  near  the  edge  of  the  forest.  As  he  did  not 
return  at  nightfall,  his  parents  made  inquiry  after  him.  Ascer 
taining  he  had  become  lost,  messengers  were  dispatched  to  each 
of  the  churches  of  the  village,  in  which  congregations  were 
that  evening  assembled,  with  a  request  for  assistance  in 
searching  for  the  little  wanderer.  Soon  a  hundred  willing  feel 
were  speeding  for  the  mountain,  with  lanterns  and  torches. 
Occasionally  a  foot  print  of  the  lost  one  could  be  seen,  but 
the  driving  snow  so  filled  the  track,  as  to  render  it  impossible 
to  follow  the  direction  he  took.  The  search  was  kept  up 
until  morning,  when  the  body  of  the  little  fellow  was  found, 
under  a  little  cedar  bush,  near  a  small  pond,  six  miles  from 
home.  Here,  in  the  darkness,  alone,  benumbed  with  the  cold, 
he  had  ceased  his  wanderings.  In  vain  had  he  striven  to  find 
his  way  home :  the  agonized  parents  heard  not  his  cries  that 
broke  upon  the  night  air,  as  he  vainly  called  for  Papa  and 
Mama  to  come  for  him.  At  last  he  laid  him  down,  with  his 
little  hat  for  a  pillow,  and  quietly  slept  away  his  life.  When 
found,  the  body  was  still  warm,  life  having  apparently  been 
extinct  but  a  short  time. 

Bull  Hill  and  Breakneck  are  two  lofty  eminences  in  this 
town,  bordering  the  river.  They  are  said  to  have  derived  their 
names  from  the  following  circumstances :  According  to  tradi 
tion,  a  bull  had  made  the  former  his  mountain  home,  from 
which,  at  night,  he  would  descend  into  the  valley  below,  and 
commit  depredations  in  the  meadows  and  grain  fields.  The 
neighbors  formed  an  alliance,  and  chased  the  bold  mountain 
robber  from  this  hill  to  the  one  immediately  north  of  it,  where, 
being  hard  pressed  by  dogs  and  armed  men,  he  attempted  to 
escape  down  a  precipice,  but  his  neck  was  broken  by  the  fall: 
His  pursuers  thereupon  christened  the  hill  from  which  they 
started  him,  "  Bull  Hill,"  and  the  one  where  he  was  captured, 
"  Breakneck."  The  dividing  line  of  DUCHESS  and  Putnam 
Counties  runs  through  the  center  of  the  latter  mountain.  On 


466  APPENDIX  A. 

the  south  side  of  the  peak,  within  a  few  feet  of  its  apex,  "  St. 
Anthony's  Face,"  so  celebrated  in  the  history  of  the  scenery  of 
the  Hudson,  once  peered  out  and  over  the  rocky  battlements ; 
but  the  venerable  patriarch  has  passed  away.  In  the  Summer 
of  1846,  one  Capt.  Ayers,  in  the  service  of  the  Harlem  Bridge 
Co.,  by  one  fell  blast,  detached  a  piece  of  granite  weighing 
nearly  ten  thousand  tons,  and  shivered  into  atoms  the  majestic 
brow  and  weather-beaten  features  of  the  mountain  hermit. 

Cat  Hill,  two  miles  east  of  Cold  Spring,  at  the  time  of  the 
settlement  of  this  town  was  the  resort  of  wild-cats — hence  its 
name. 

Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  800  feet  high,  is  nearly  two  miles 
below  Cold  Spring,  and  is  named  from  its  resemblance  to  a 
sugar-loaf.  Anthony's  Nose  Mountain,  noo  feet  high,  is  in 
this  town,  near  the  dividing  line  of  Putnam  and  Westchester. 
There  were  two  redoubts  on  this  mountain,  intended  to  guard 
the  Hudson  as  it  issued  from  the  Highlands. 

Whiskey  Hill  is  a  small  eminence  on  the  old  road  leading 
from  Continental  Village  to  Garrisons  Landing.  During  the 
Revolutionary  War,  some  soldiers  were  carting  a  hogshead  of 
whiskey  from  the  former  place  to  West  Point.  On  reaching 
nearly  the  top  of  the  hill,  the  blocks  got  out  of  place,  and  the 
hogshead,  smashing  the  tail-board  into  pieces,  rolled  to  the 
foot  of  the  hill,  where  it  came  in  contact  with  a  large  stone, 
and  burst,  to  the  deep  sorrow  of  the  soldiers. 

Fort  Hill  is  so  named  from  the  circumstance  of  two 
redoubts  having  been  erected  on  it,  known  in  history  as  North 
and  South  Redoubts.  The  Sunk  Lot  is  a  tract  of  about  1300 
acres  of  land  in  the  east  part  of  the  town,  the  location  of 
which  is  low,  and  apparently  sunk  down. 

Tradition  says  a  silver  mine  was  discovered  in  this  town 
about  1763.  A  man  named  Jubar  coined  money,  and  it  began 
to  be  rumored  that  he  procured  the  ore  for  that  purpose  in  this 
to.vn.  It  was  ascertained  that  Jubar's  money  contained 
silver  mixed  with  other  metals.  He  was  arrested  by  order  of 
the  Colonial  Government,  tried  at  Poughkeepsie,  and  hung 


APPENDIX    A.  467 

about  the  year  1765.  One  Samuel  Taylor  was  associated  with 
him,  who  always  said  that  Jubar  melted  an  ore,  from  which  he 
extracted  silver. 

It  was  said  one  Eleazer  Gray,  some  three  or  four  years 
before  the  Revolution,  who  was  by  trade  a  silversmith, 
discovered  a  mine,  and  put  up  a  log  shop  in  which  to  work,  in 
the  Sunk  Lot.  A  younger  brother  of  Eleazer  once  pointed 
out  a  place  where  the  silver  ore  was  found  ;  but  when  the  spot 
was  visited  a  few  years  afterwards,  it  was  ascertained  that  all 
traces  of  the  mine  had  been  removed. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  the  family  of  Grays, 
in  consequence  of  a  party  of  horse-thieves  having  been  seen 
at  their  residence,  were  suspected  of  being  in  league  with 
these  midnight  desperadoes.  Their  counterfeiting  operations 
becoming  known,  helped  to  give  them  an  unenviable  notoriety. 
At  last  their  neighbors  set  fire  to  their  dwelling,  shop,  and 
barn,  which  induced  them  to  quit  that  part  of  the  country. 

About  the  year  1800  a  man  named  Henry  Holmes  was 
arrested  for  counterfeiting  coin  in  this  town.  It  was  said  he 
carried  on  operations  in  a  cave  or  hole  in  the  rocks.  He  was 
tried,  found  guilty,  and  was  sentenced  to  State  Prison  for  a 
term  of  seven  years.  His  supposed  accomplice,  who  made  his 
moulds,  was  acquitted  in  consequence  of  an  alleged  informality 
in  the  indictment. 

Continental  Village  is  a  cluster  of  houses  in  the  southwest 
part  of  the  town,  one  mile  from  the  Westchester  line.  This 
is  commemorable  from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  been 
burned  by  the  British  in  1777.  Here  the  first  grist-mill  was 
built  by  Beverly  Robinson  in  1762. 

The  West  Point  Foundry,  the  largest  institution  of  the  kind 
in  this  country,  is  situated  about  half  a  mile  distant  from  Cold 
Spring  Landing.  This  association  was  incorporated  by  an  act 
of  the  Legislature,  passed  April  i5th  1818. 

PUTNAM  VALLEY. 

This  town  was   formed  from  Philipstown     as     "  Quincy," 


468  APPENDIX    A. 

March  i4th,    1839.      Its  present  name  was  given  to  it  Feb.  13. 
1840. 

Canopus  Hill  is  an  eminence  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town,  named  in  honor  of  an  Indian  chief.  North  of  this  is 
Tinker  Hill,  on  which,  about  three-fourths  of  a  century  ago, 
lived  an  Englishman  named  Rick,  who  went  about  the 
country  tinkering. 

During  the  Revolution,  a  Whig  named  Robert  Oakley, 
who  lived  on  the  Wiccopee  road,  was  shot  one  afternoon  as  he 
was  returning  home,  by  some  Tories  who  had  concealed  them 
selves  near  his  house  for  the  purpose.  About  this  period,  one 
Thomas  Richards  was  living  here.  He  was  taken  as  a  rebel, 
conveyed  to  New  York,  and  confined  by  the  British  all  winter. 
His  wife  was  left  at  home  all  alone.  The  hard  winter  came  on, 
and  the  snow,  covering  the  lonely  cabin,  prevented  all  ingress 
or  egress  by  the  door.  She  first  used  up  all  the  fuel  inside  ; 
and  then  with  an  axe  broke  a  hole  through  the  roof,  got  out, 
and  cut  off  the  large  limbs  \vhich  hung  over  her  hut,  throwing 
them  down  into  the  garret.  Her  stock  of  food  became  well 
nigh  exhausted,  and  the  cow  died.  This  lone  woman,  without 
a  human  being  for  a  companion,  and  confined  in  her  prison  of 
snow,  was  forced  to  eat  the  carcass  of  her  cow  ;  and  when 
that  was  exhausted,  she  lived  on  a  little  shelled  corn  that  was 
left  in  the  garret,  making  use  of  some  dirty  brine  to  season  it 
with,  In  this  manner  she  lived  through  the  winter. 

SOUTHEAST. 

This  town  was  one  of  the  earliest  settled  in  the  county, 
and  was  formed  March  yth,  1788,  mostly  from  Southeast 
Precinct.  The  principal  settlers  were  the  Crosbys,  Cranes, 
Halls,  Moodys,  Paddocks,  Carpenters,  and  Dickinsons.  There 
were  also  families  by  the  name  of  Hanes,  and  Howes.  Deacon 
Moody,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  the  first  settler  at 
Sodom  Corners.  David  Paddock  came  from  Cape  Cod.  in 
1740,  with  a  family  of  eight  children,  and  located  near  the 


APPENDIX  A.  469 

Presbyterian  Meeting  House.  His  son  Isaac  was  killed  in  the 
fight  at  Ward's  House  below  White  Plains.  Caleb  Carpenter, 
with  twelve  others,  came  to  this  town  about  the  year  1730, 
locating  about  three  miles  north  of  Sodom  Corners,  where 
they  built  the  old  Presbyterian  log  church.  Joseph  Crane 
came  about  the  same  time,  and  settled  on  the  north  side  of 
Joe's  Hill,  where  he  built  the  mill  known  in  early  times  as 
"  Crane's  Mill." 

Sale  of  the  poor  made  April  22d,  1826. 

Nancy  Binnit          to     James   Hains, $25.37 

Ebijah  Crane          "      Henry  Weed 33-5° 

George  Dudley       "      Abner  Gay 3 5. 80 

Ebenezer  Wixon    "      Chancey   Higgins 15-00 

Birch  &  Wife          "       Henry    Cole 79.94 

Esther  Lawrence    "      James   Hains 23.87 

Joseph  Leonard      "      James  Hains 34-97 

Sodom,  says  Blake,  a  quiet  little  hamlet  near  the  center 
of  the  town,  was  so  named  by  way  of  reproach,  in  consequence 
of  the  unusually  wild  and  wayward  character  of  its  U  hoys 
in  days  gone  by. 

Joe's  Hill  is  a  beautiful  romantic  eminence  in  the  east  part 
of  the  town.  Nearly  a  hundred  years  ago  it  was  rumored 
there  was  a  silver  mine  in  the  north  side  of  this  hill.  Marvel 
ous  stories  were  told  concerning  the  manner  of  its  discovery. 
In  a  few  years  the  excitement  became  great,  and  drew  into  its 
vortex  many  of  easy  credulity.  Two  or  three  men  from 
abroad,  supposed  at  the  time  to  be  practical  miners,  visited 
the  hill  and  took  up  their  residence  near  it.  Two  residents, 
Nathan  Hall  and  Jehu  Miner,  also  became  believers  in  the 
mine.  They  in  company  with  the  strangers  were  called 
"  Pigeon  Men." 

Hall  pretended  to  know  the  precise  locality  of  the  mine ; 
and  necromancy,  divination,  and  mystic  charms  formed  the 
subject  of  his  conversation  when  questioned  in  regard  to  it. 
The  existence  of  the  mine  appears  to  have  been  a  delusion 
which  increased  with  his  age  ;  and  as  a  ruling  passion,  was 
.strongly  developed  on  his  death  bed.  His  wife  partook  of  the 


470  APPENDIX  A. 

same  delusion.  A  neighbor  inquired  of  her  what  had  become 
of  the  silver  her  husband  said  would  be  as  plenty  as  berries. 
She  replied  that  "  Nathan  had  been  revealing  something  about 
the  mine  which  he  ought  not  to  have  disclosed,  and  the 
mysterious  spell  had  moved  over  it.  His  brother  had  expressed 
a  wish  to  be  present  when  Hall  died.  He  was  sent  for,  and 
promptly  answered  the  summons,  but  Hall  was  so  far  gone 
as  to  be  unable  to  speak.  His  brother  then  told  him  if  there 
was  a  silver  mine  in  Joe's  Hill,  to  squeeze  his  hand.  Hall 
gave  it,  as  far  as  his  strength  permitted,  a  hard  gripe  ;  thus 
retaining  on  his  death-bed  the  belief  he  entertained  while 
living, 

Tones  Pond,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  is  named 
after  an  old  negro,  called  Tone,  who  settled  by  it.  He  was 
the  slave  of  John  Warring  ;  and  enlisted  in  the  War  of  the 
Revolution  on  condition  that  he  should  have  his  freedom  at 
its  close.  He  then  married  a  woman  half  Indian  and  half 
negro.  He  furnished  boats,  and  kept  a  sort  of  fishermen's 
tavern.  One  of  his  grandsons  married  a  beautiful  young  white 
girl,  who  shortly  afterward  induced  him  to  go  South  with  her, 
where  she  sold  him  as  a  slave. 

Capt.  Joshua  Barnum  came  from  Danbury,  about  the  year 
1755,  and  settled  in  this  town.  He  was  in  the  battle  at  Ward's 
House,  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  After  the  war,  he 
brought  home  from  New  York,  as  a  present  to  his  wife,  a  half 
pound  of  tea.  His  wife  was  at  a  loss  how  to  prepare  it,  as 
none  of  the  article  had  yet  been  used  in  this  part  of  the 
country.  A  council  was  called,  made  up  of  the  women  of  the 
neighborhood,  to  decide  the  mooted  question,  at  which  each 
one  gave  her  opinion  as  to  the  manner  in  which  this  new 
beverage  should  be  prepared.  One  proposed  putting  it  in  the 
pudding  bag,  and  boiling  it  in -milk  ;  another  was  for  frying  in 
a  pan  with  a  little  butter  and  water;  a  third  suggested  boiling 
it  in  the  dish  kettle.  The  last  proposition  was  adopted  as  the 
voice  of  the  meeting.  Accordingly,  the  half  pound  of  tea  was 
put  in,  with  a  sufficiency  of  water,  and  duly  boiled.  They  all 


APPENDIX  A. 


47* 


drank — some  more,  some  less.  The  one  recommending  the 
dish-kettle  drank  by  far  the  largest  quantity,  alleging  that  "  she 
wanted  to  diskiver  its  aristocratic  qualities,  if  it  had  any."  She 
next  morning  declared  she  hadn't  slept  a  wink  ;  and  on  com 
paring  notes,  it  was  found  all  had  been  in  the  same  predica 
ment. 

"  At  a  Town  Meeting  held  in  the  South  Precinct  in 
DUCHESS  County  6th  day  of  April  1773,  John  rider  Was- 
chosen  Moderator,  Isaac  Ehvell  Clark,  Chosen  Joseph  Crane. 
Jr.,  Supervisor;  was  chosen  John  Field  Sessor;  was  choseD 
Samuel  Bangs  Sessor ;  was  chosen  peter  hall  Collector." 


Rombout's  Patent. 


Beekman's  Patent. 


Maj.  Morris' 
water    lot,   4 
m'l's   square. 

+ 

X 

i 

Col.     Robin 
son's  back 
lot,    4   miles 
square. 

n 

iH 

o 

•4-T 

1 

0 

CJ 

1 

^ 

Capt.     Fred 
erick    Phil- 
ipse'    water 
lot,  4  mi,  sq. 

bC 

C 
£ 

in 

"c/5 

o 

s 

Capt.     Fred 
erick  P  h  i  1- 
i  p  s  e'   back 
lot,  4  mi.  sq. 

inecticut  Li 

pq 

'j3 

^ 

Col.    Robin 
son's     water 
lot,    4  miles 
square. 

o 

'o 
U 

go 

rt 

'4j 

£ 

a, 

rt 

y 

Maj.  Morns' 
back    lot,    4 
mil's  square. 

North  line  of  Westchester  County. 
Diagram  of  the  "Philipse  Patent"  now  Putnam  County. 


APPENDIX  B. 


OV.    MOORE  TO  LORDS  OF  TRADE.        1776. 

I  informed  Conway  in  a  letter  of  the  3oth  April  last 
of  some  disturbances  which  had  arose  in  the  County  cf 
Duchess  in  this  Province,  and  at  the  same  time 
^  acquainted  him  with  the  steps  taken  to  suppress  them. 
Since  that,  the  infection  has  spread  to  the  neighboring  county 
of  Albany,  but  some  of  the  rioters  have  been  already  taken, 
.and  the  greatest  part  of  them  fled  into  the  Provinces  of 
Massachusetts  and  Connecticut,  where  they  appear  to  be 
protected  by  the  Magistrates,  as  all  the  requisitions  made  to 
•get  them  apprehended  have  proved  ineffectual,  notwithstand 
ing  they  are  so  far  from  absconding  that  they  appear  publicly, 
so  that  we  must  expect  to  have  them  returned  again  into  this 
Province  as  soon  as  the  force  is  withdrawn  which  drove  them 
out,  and  a  new  scene  of  disorder  will  of  course  commence.  A 
tribe  of  Indians  settled  at  a  place  called  Stockbridge  in 
Massachusetts  seem  to  be  the  contrivers  of  these  Riots,  and 
from  the  information  I  have  received  have  joined  with  some  of 
the  lower  people  in  the  irregularities  which  have  been  com 
mitted  lately. 

NEW  YORK,  Dec.  24,  1773. — We  hear  from  Duchess 
County  that  the  High  Sheriff,  having  received  the  sum  of  fifty 
pounds  from  his  Excellency  Governor  Tryon,  to  be  distributed 
for  the  relief  of  debtors  confined  in  his  goal,  has  applied  that 
.money  in  the  manner  prescribed,  and  cheered  many  indigent 

472 


APPENDIX  B.  473 

men  whose  misfortunes  had  reduced  them  to  melancholy 
durance.  The  gratitude  of  these  unhappy  persons  on  this 
gracious  attention  to  them  cannot  be  described. 

The  Highlands  are  mentioned  by  Governor  Hunter  [1710] 
as  "  Part  of  the  resumed  Grant  of  Captain  Evans,  being 
about  twelve  miles  in  length  along  the  River,  Mountainous 
and  barren  and  Incapable  of  Improvement  or  of  a  road,  and 
only  valuable  for  fire  wood,  no  man  will  accept  of  any  part  of 
it  under  the  Quit  Rent  directed  to  be  reserved  unless  it  be 
contiguous  to  the  River,  where  he  may  with  ease  transport  the 
wood." 

"  The  Queen  likewise  directs  that  in  each  Patent  there  be 
a  covenant,  on  the  part  of  the  Patentee  to  plant,  settle  and 
effectually  cultivate  at  least  three  acres  of  land  for  every  fifty  in 
three  years  from  date  of  Patent." 


Lord  of  His  Majesties  most  Humble  privy  Council  to  the 
Lords  of  Trade  : 

WHEREAS,  a  petition  has  been  presented  to  us  by  Sir 
Joseph  Eyleskin,  Jonathan  Perrie,  John  Drummond  and 
Thomas  Watts,  Esqrs  praying  that  the  Tract  of  land  granted 
to  them  in  the  Province  of  New  York,  known  by  the  name  of 
the  Equivalent  land  may  be  either  erected  into  a  County  or 
united  to  such  other  contiguous  county  or  Counties  of  the  said 
Province  as  shall  be  found  the  most  convenient.  Our  will  and 
pleasure  is  that  you  choose  the  most  convenient  County  or 
Counties,  and  that  you  do  annex  the  said  Equivalent  Land  to 
such  County  or  Counties  accordingly. 


•'  I  have  now  settled  the  Palatines  upon  good  land  upon 
both  sides  of  Hudson's  River,  about  one  hundred  miles  up 
adjacent  to  the  Pines;  I  have  planted  them  in  5  villages,  three 
on  the  east  side  of  the  River  upon  6000  acres  I  have  pur 
chased  of  Mr.  Livingston  about  two  miles  from  Row-Lof 
Jansens  Kill ;  The  other  two  on  the  west  side  near  Sawyers 
Creek." — Letter  of  Gov.  Hunter  to  Lords  of  Trade. 


Mr.  Golden  to  the  Lords  of  Trade  :  Province  of  New  York 
Feb.  14,  1738. — "At  about  40  miles  northward  from  the  city 
of  New  York  a  chain  of  Mountains  of  about  two  miles  in 


474  APPENDIX  B. 

breadth.     Commonly  called  the  Highlands  Cross  the  Hudsons 
River  running  many  miles  from  the  North  East 

The  southern  part  of  the  country  that  is  from  the  sea  on  both 
sides  of  Hudsons  river  to  within  20  miles  of  Albany,  is. 
generally  covered  with  Oaks  of  several  sorts,  intermixed  with 
Wallnuts,  Chestnuts  and  almost  all  sorts  of  timber  according 
to  the  difference  of  the  soil  in  several  parts.  I  have  seen  in. 
several  parts  of  the  country  large  quantities  of  Larix  Trees 
from  whence  Venice  Turpentine  is  made  about  Albany,  and 
as  I  am  informed  a  great  way  up  the  Eastern  branch  of 
Hudsons  river  the  land  is  generally  covered  with  pines  of 
several  sorts." 


"  This  country  abounds  in  Iron  Oar  especially  in  the 
Highlands,  and  several  works  have  been  begun  but  were  droped 
through  the  mismanagement  or  inability  of  the  undertakers; 
of  these  there  were  two  Furnaces  in  the  Manor  of  Cortaland 
and  several  Bloomeries." — Lieut.  Gov.  DcLancy  to  the  Lords  of 
Trade  1757. 

In  the  Journal  of  Sir  William  Johnsons  Proceedings  with 
the  Indians  [1757]  occurs  the  following  words— Jonathan  the 
Mohickander  spoke  as  follows :  "  Brother,  Please  lend  us  your 
attention  a  little.  'Tis  now  9  years  ago  that  a  misfortune 
happened  neir  Rhinebeck  in  this  Province  ;  a  white  man  then 
shot  a  young  man  an  Indian.  There  was  a  meeting  held 
therein,  and  Martinus  Hoffman  said  Brothers  there  are  two 
methods  of  settling  this  accident,  one  according  to  the  white 
peoples  customs,  the  other  according  to  the  Indians ;  which  of 
them  will  you  chuse  ?  If  you  will  go  according  to  the  Indian 
manners,  the  man  who  shot  the  Indian  may  live.  If  this  man's 
life  is  spared,  and  at  any  time  hereafter  an  Indian  should  kill 
a  white  man,  and  you  desire  it,  his  life  shall  also  be  spared. 
Brother  there  are  two  Indians  in  jail  at  Albany  accused  of 
killing  a  man,  and  we  beg  you  they  may  be  released.  All  we 
that  are  here  present  among  whom  are  some  of  their  nations, 
are  all  much  dejected  and  uneasy  upon  this  affair,  and  do- 
entreat  that  these  people  may  be  let  free  which  will  give  us  all 
the  highest  satisfaction." 

Gave  a  great  bunch  Wampum. 


At  an  election  held  in  Poughkeepsie,  County  of  DUCHESS, 
in  pursuance  of  a  Resolution  of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  the 


APPENDIX  B.  475- 

Colony  of  New  York,  of  the  2yth  of  October  last,  under  the 
inspection  of  the  General  Committee  of  the  County,  on  the 
7th  and  8th  days  of  Nov.,  1775,  Petrus  Tenbroeck,  Beverly 
Robinson,  Cornelius  Humphrey,  Henry  Schenck,  Gilbert 
Livingston,  John  Kaine,  Jacob  Everson,  Morris  Graham,  and 
Robert  G.  Livingston,  Jim.,  Esquires,  were  elected  deputies  to 
the  said  county  in  a  Provincial  Congress  for  the  Colony  of 
New  York,  appointed  to  meet  at  the  city  of  New  York  on  the 
1 4th  inst.  By  order  of  Committee, 

EGBERT  BENSON,  Chairman. 
Nov.  8th,  1775. 


In  General  Committee  of  DUCHESS  County,  July  i3th 
1776,  it  was  resolved  That  five  of  the  nine  Representatives 
elected  for  this  County  be  a  quorum  to  represent  the  same  in 
the  Convention  of  Representatives  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

REUBEN  HOPKINS,  Sect'y. 

On  the  1 7th  of  Sept.  following,  the  number  was  reduced  to- 
three,  as  it  frequently  happened  there  were  so  many  delinquent 
members  from  DUCHESS  that  no  quorum  was  present. 


The  following  officers  were  sworn  in.  May  22,  1777,  at 
Poughkeepsie  ;  Henry  Livingston,  Clerk  of  the  County; 
Ephraim  Paine,  ist  Judge;  Zepha  Platt,  2nd  do. ;  Melancthon 
Smith,  Sheriff  of  the  County. 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK    MILITIA. 

APRIL  the  2ist,  1693. 

The  Militia  of  Ulster  and  Duchess  County,  commanded 
by  Lieut.  Coll.  Beekman,  being  four  Companies  of  Foot  and 
one  Troop  of  Horse,  now  formed  into  Dragoons  by  the  Gov 
ernor,  consisting  of  277  men. 

Number  of  the   Militia  of   the   Province   of    New 

York,  about 1 700 

Ulster  and  Duchess  County, 325 


476 


APPENDIX  B. 


Of  the  Regiment  of  Militia  in  ye  Counties  of  ULSTER  and 
DUCHESS. 

Colonel.  ) 

Jacob  Rusten,  Lieut.  Colonel,  v  Field  Officers. 
Majr.  ) 


Of  a  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  County. 
'Matthias  Matfyson,  Captain.  ) 
Evart  Bogardus,       Leiut.      >  Field  Officers. 

Teunis  Tappen,        Ensigne.  ) 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  ye  said  County. 
Abra.  Hasbrooke,     Captain.  ) 
Moses  Quan tnin,      Leiut.      >C.  O. 
Lewis  lieavca,          Ensign.    ) 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  ye  said  County. 
George  Middagh,  -  -  Captain. 

Gysbert  Krooni,      -  Leiut. 

Alex.  Kosekrans,          -  -  Ensigne. 

Of  another  Foot  Company  in  ye  said  County. 
Aria  Rose,  -  Captain. 

John  Kose,    -  -  -         Li.  in. 

Aria  Qerrutse,    -          -  Ensigne. 


I  Of  another  Foot  Company  in  ye  said  Countys 
j  Jocham  Schooimaker,  Captain- 

John  Van  Camp,    -  -  Leiut- 

Jaeob  Decker,   -  -  Ensigne- 


Of  another  Foot  C'ompai 
I  Co.-nrod  Elmendorpli, 
I  Mattyse  Sleight, 
i  Garrett  \\  yncoop, 


'  in  ye  said  Countys. 

Captain. 

Leiut. 

Ensigne. 


|  Of  another  Foot  Compa  in  ye  said  County*. 
Malius  Van  Kleet,  -  -         Captain. 

Ilen.lrick  Kipp,  Leiut. 

John  Ter  Bus,     -  Ensigne. 

Of  the  Troop  of    Horse  in  ye  said  Ilegt. 
Egbert  Scoonmaker,        -          -       Captain. 
Corn.  Decker,  -    Cornet. 

.\  bra.  Ga>brck,    -  -  -  Cornet. 

j  Mattyse  Jansen,  Quarter  Master. 

This  Regiment  consists  of  Three  hundred  five  and  twenty 
men. 


ENROLLMENT  OF  THE  PEOPLE  CALLED  QUAKERS. 


Pursuant  an  act  of  General  Assembly  of  this  province 
passed  the  igth  of  ffebruary,  1755.  Entitled  an  Act  for  Reg 
ulating  the  Militia  of  the  Colony  of  New  York.  Those  for 
Duchess  County  are  as  follows  vizt: 

1755.     April  22. 


Joshun    Shearman    of    Beeknian    Precinct, 

Shoi  m  iker 

Moses  u.i.  of  the  same  place.  Labourer. 

Daniel  Shearman  of  the  same  place,  Lab 
Joseph  Dot-  of  the  same  place,  Blacksmith. 
John  Wing  of  the  same  place,  fl'armer 

Zebulon   Ferris  of  the  Oblong  in  Beekman 

Precinct.  ffarmcr. 

Joseph   Smith  son  of   Richard  Smith  01  the 

same  place.  Labourer. 

Robert  Whitely  of  the  Oblong,  fl'armer 

Elijah  Doty  of  the  Oblong,  House  Carpenter. 
Philip  Al'en  of  tin-  oblong,  Weaver. 

Richard  Smith  of  the  <  >blong,  ffarmcr. 

James  Aiken  of  the  Oblong,  Blacksmith. 
Abraham  Chase  son  of  Henry  Chase  of  the 

Oblonir,  fl'armer. 

David  Hoag  of  tho  Oblong, 
John  Hoag  of  the  Oblong,  ffarmer. 

Amos  Hoag  Son  ot  John  Hoag  of  the  Oblong, 
Labourer 
Jonathan  Hoag  of  the  Oblong,    Blacksmith. 


I  rael  Ilowland  of  Oblong,  ffarmer. 

Misha  Akin  of  Oblong,  ffarmer. 

Isaac  Haviland  of  Oblong,  Blacksmith. 

Nathan  Soule  son  of  George  Sotile  of  Oblong, 
ffarmer. 

James  Binlsall  of  Oblong,  Lab  Hirer. 

Daniel  Chas«i  of  oblong,  ffarmer. 

Silas  Mossher  of  Os\vego  in  Beekmans  Pre 
cinct,  ffarmer. 
William  Mossher  of  the  same  place,  ffarmer. 
SilvesterKichinond  •  f  the  same  place, fl'armer. 
Jesse  Irish  of  the  same  place,  fl'armer. 
David  Irish  of  the  same  place,  ffarmer. 
William  Irish  of  the  same  place,  ffarmer. 

23d. 

Josiah  Bull  of  the  same  place,  ffarmer. 

Josiah  liullJimr  or  the  same  place,  ffarmer. 

Allen  Moore  of  the  same  plac  ,  fl'armer 

Andrew  Moore  of  the  same  place,      fl'armer. 
William  Gitl'ord  of  the  same  place,    ffarmer. 


APPENDIX   B. 


477 


John  Hoa<?  Son  or'  John  Hoaj,'  of  the  Oblong.  Josiah  Akin  of  Oljlonj.r, 


Kzek 

el  Iloag  of  the  Oblong, 

Lai 

Juda 

i  Sniitli  of  the  Oblong. 

'J 

Matt 

e\v  XVing  of  the  oblong 

Timo 

hv  Dakm  of  the  Oblong 

fl 

Jon  a 

hail  Akin  of  oblonir. 

La 

Samuell  Russell  of  Oblong. 

La 

John  Kisb  of  Oblonu. 

f] 

Keed  Ferris  of  Oblong, 

Shoe 

iienjamin  Ferris  Jour,  of  ()1>1 

ing,    La 

Taylur.  2-"»th. 

XathanielYeoman.s  of  the  same  place. ffarmer. 
fl  irmer.  Elijah  Yeoiuaus  of  the  same  place,    ll'armer. 


, 
rmer.    William  Parks  of  Oswes/o  in  Beekman  Pre- 


laker.       cmct, 


rtarmer. 


DUCHESS  COUNTY,  ss  :    The  foregoing  are  all  the  Quakers 
enrolled  in  my  office  the  ist  day  of  July,  1755. 

Per  HENRY  LIVINGTON,  Clerk. 


Warrants  issued  by  Provincial  Congress,  authorizing  persons  to 
recruit  in  Duchess  Countv. 

A  warrant  to  Henry  B.  Livingston,  Captain  :  Jacob  Thom 
as,  ist  Lieut.  ;   Roswell  Willcox,  2nd  Lieut. 

A  warrant  to  Louis  Dubois.  Captain  ;  Elias  Van  Bunscho- 
ten  Jun'r,  ist  Lieut.  ;  Cornelius  Adriance,  2nd  Lieut. 

Andrew    Billings,    Captain ;    P^zekiel   Cooper,    ist    Lieut.  ; 
John  Langdon,  2nd  Lieut. 

Rufus    Herrick,    Captain  ;     Charles   Graham,    ist    Lieut.  ; 
Jesse  Thompson,  2nd  Lieut. 

On  the  23th  day  of  June,  1775,  received  the  above  twelve 
warrants,  all  bearing  date  on  the  day  of  date  thereof. 

ZEPH  PLATT, 
GILBERT  LIVINGSTON, 
MELANCTON  SMITH. 

Regimental  Of/i'crs  in  Duchess  Countv. 


No.  i. 

Petrus  Ten  Broeck,  Colonel. 
Morris  Graham,  Lieut.  Col. 
Simon  Westfall,  Major. 
Jonathan  Landon,  do. 
William  Stewart,  Adjutant. 
H.  Van  Hoevenburgh,  Q.  M. 

No.  4-  ^ 

Tobias  Stouten  burgh,  Col. 
John  Frere.  Lieut.  Col. 
Robert  Hoffman,  Major. 
Benj.  DeLevergne,  do. 
John  Carpenter,  Adj't. 
John  Ringley,  Q.  Master. 


No.  2. 

Dirck  Brinkerhoff,  Colonel. 
Abram  Brinkerhoff,  Lieut.  Col. 
David  Ter  Boss,  Major. 
Richard  Van  Wyck,  do. 
Thomas  Storm,  Ajutant. 
Adrian  Brinkerhoff,  Q.  M. 

No.  5. 

William  Humphrey,  Col. 
J as.  Van  Denburgh,  Lieut.  Col. 
Benjamin  Birdsall.  Major. 
Morris  Place,  do. 

Ebenezer  Gary,  Ad't. 
Charles  Platt,  Quar.  Master. 


478  APPENDIX  B. 

No.  6. 

David  Sutherland,  Colonel, 
Roswell  Hopkins,  Lieut.  Col. 
Simeon  Cook,  Major. 
Richard  D.  Cantelon,  do. 
Joseph  Carpenter,  Adjutant. 
Daniel  Shepherd,  Quar.  Master. 
'Commissions  issued  Oct.  iyth,  1775. 


Minute   Men  in 

John  Van  Ness,  Colonel. 
Cornelius  Humphrey,  Lt.  Col. 
Robert  G.  Livingston,  Major. 
James  Reed,  do. 

Reuben  Hopkins,  Adj't. 
Joseph  Ketcham  Q.  Master. 


Due '/less    County. 

Jacobus  Swartout,  Colonel. 
John  Bailey,  Jr.  Lieut.  Col. 
Malcom  Morrison,  Major. 
Henry  Schank,  do. 

Joshua  Carmen,  Adj't. 
Henry  Godwin,  Q.  Master. 


.Commissions  issued,  d?ted  Oct.    17,  1775. 

Minute  Companies   Col.  Swartoufs  Reg't. 


Po'keepsie  Prec't. 
John  Schanck,  Captain. 
Dr.  Peter  Tappan,   ist  Lieut. 
John  Child,  2nd  Lieut. 
Matthew  Van  Keuren,  Ensign. 

Rombout  Prec't. 

Beekman  Prec't 


Pawling  Prec't. 
Phenias  Woodward,  Capt. 
Comfort  Shaw,  ist  Lieut. 
Mark  Williams,  2d  Lieut. 
Gideon  Osterhout,  Ensign. 

Southeast  Precinct. 
Joseph  Barnum,  Capt. 
William  Murch,  ist  Lieut 
Eliakim  Barnum,  2d  Lieut 
Jonathan  Crane,  Ensign. 


Minute  Companies  Col.   Van  Ness's  Reg't 


Northeast  Prec't 
Hugh  Rea,  Captain. 
Daniel  Willson,  ist  Lieut 
Nathaniel  Mead,  2nd  Lieut 
Phineas  Rice,  Ensign. 

Rhinebeck  Prec't. 
Herman  Hoffman,  Capt. 


Amenia  Precinct 
Increase  Child,  Captain. 
John  Lloyd,  ist  Lieut 
William  Blunt,  2nd  Lieut 
Josiah  Morse,  Ensign. 

Charlotte   Prec't 
|  Smith  Sutherland,  Capt. 


Andrew   Hermanse.  ist  Lieut. i  Zachias  Marshall,  ist  Lieut. 
George  Sharpe,  2nd  Lieut.       j  Uriah  Sill,  2nd  Lieut. 
James  Adams,  Ensign.  j  Stephen  Haight,  Ensign. 


APPENDIX  B. 


479 


Rhinebeck  Precinct. 
John  Dewitt,  Captain. 
Philip  Hermanse,  ist  Lieut. 
John  Steenburgh,  2nd  Lieut. 
Jacob  Kipp,  Ensign. 
Company  Officers   CoL  Ten  Broeck 's  Reg  t. 


Isaac  Smith,  Captain. 
Jacob  Weaver,  ist  Lieut. 
Silas  Husted,  2nd  Lieut. 
Michael  Row,  Ensign. 

John  Collins,  Captain. 
Jas.  Willson,  ist  Lieut. 
Zachariah  Phillip,  2nd  Lieut. 


Company    Officers 
[i]*         North  District. 
Henry  Humphrey,  Captain. 
Smith  Southerland,  ist  Lieut. 
Silas  German,  2nd  Lieut. 
George  Krankhet.  Ensign. 

[2]          South  District. 
Isaac  Bloom,  Captain. 
John  Gaseley,  Jr.,  ist  Lieut. 
John  Williams,  2nd  Lieut. 
David  Jenis,  Ensign. 


Archibald  Johnston,  Captain. 
Abraham    Hart  well,  ist  Lieut. 
John  Seaton,  2nd  Lieut. 
Gilbert  Clapp.  Ensign. 

Israel  Thompson,  Captain. 

Stephen  Edgett,  ist  Lieut. 
!  John  Row,  2nd  Lieut. 
|  Jehial  Mead,  Ensign. 
of  Charlotte  Precinct. 
'  [5]          North  District. 

Ebenezer  Husted,  Captain. 

Jonathan  Mead,  ist  Lieut. 

James  Talmage,  2nd  Lieut. 

Stephen  Adset,  Ensign. 

[6]         South  District. 
Roger  Sutherland,  Captain. 
Josiah  Gale,  ist  Lieut. 
Thos.  Jenckes.  2nd  Lieut. 
:  Joel  Horskins,  Ensign. 


£3]          West  District.  [7]          South  District. 

Benjamin  Delavargne,  Captain.   William  Gay,  Captain. 
David  Hendy,  ist  Lieut. 
Wm.  Woodworth,  2nd  Lieut. 
Joseph  Harris,  Ensign. 


Joseph  Hagaman,  ist  Lieut. 
Francis  Leroy,  2nd  Lieut. 
Paul  Vananden,  Ensign. 


[4]          East    District. 
Jacob  Tobias,  Captain. 
Israel  Platt,  ist  Lieut. 
Caleb  Hyat,  2nd  Lieut. 
Gilbert  Warden,  Ensign. 
[9] 


:  [8]  Middle  District. 
:  Isaac  Conklin,  Captain, 
j  Peter  Shults,  ist  Lieut. 
i  fosiah  Burton,  2nd  Lieut. 
i  Ebenezer  Mott,  Ensign. 
North  District. 


Commission  issued  Sept.  1775. 


Peter  Stoutenburgh,  Captain. 
Elijah  Herrick,  ist  Lieut. 
Hugh  Wilde,  2nd  Lieut. 
Joseph  Hambleton,  Ensign. 


4'8o 


APPENDIX  B. 

Rombout  Precinct. 


No.  i. 

Zebulon  Southard,  Capt. 
Evert  VVinkup  Swart,  ist  Lieut. 
Robert  Brett,  2nd  Lieut. 
Isaac  Van  Wyck,  Ensign. 

No.  2. 

Jacob  Griffin,  Capt. 
John  G.  Brinkerhoff,  ist  Lieut. 
Abram  Schenck,  2nd  Lieut. 
Christeyan  Du  Bois,  Jr., Ensign. 

No.  3. 

Joseph  Horton,  Capt. 
John  Wiltsey,  ist  Lieut. 
John  L.  Losie,  2nd  Lieut. 
Jacob  Buys,  Jr.,  Ensign. 

No.  7. 

Andrew  Hill,  Capt. 
Cornelius  Brinckerhoff,  ist.  Lt. 
Francis  May,  Jr.,  2d  Lieut. 
Abm.  La  Doux,  Ensign. 


No.  4. 

Isaac  Hegeman,  Capt. 
Jacobus  De  Groff,  ist  Lieut. 
Gideon  Van  Velen,  2nd  Lieut. 
Robert  Todd,  Ensign. 

No.  5.    ' 

Milton  Fowler,  Capt. 
Matihw  Van  Bunscoten,  ist  Lt. 
Daniel  Outwater,  2nd  Lieut. 
Peter  Van  Bimschoten.  Ensign. 

No.  6. 
Stephen  Brinkerhoff,  Capt. 


George  Brinkerhoff,  2d  Lieut. 
Stephen  Osborne,  Ensign. 

Southeast  Precinct, 
William  Mott,  Capt. 
Benj.  Wiggins,  ist  Lieu.t 
Ebenezer  Gage,  2nd  Lieut. 
Nathan  Green,  Jr.,  Ensign. 


Rhinebeck  Preciect. 


No.    i. 

Simeon  Westfall,  Captain. 
Peter  Westfall,  ist  Lieut. 
Wilhelmus  Smith,  2nd  Lieut. 
Abraham  Dels,  Ensign. 

No.    2. 

William  Radclift,  Captain. 
Abraham  T.  Kip,  ist.  Lieut. 
John  De  Witt,  2nd  Lieut. 
Johannes  Moore,  Ensign. 


No.  3. 

;  Martin  Hoffman,  Captain. 
\  Johannes  Klum,  ist  Lieut. 
I  Zachariah  Hoffman,  2nd  Lieut 

John  J.  Hermanse,  Ensign. 

No.    4- 
\  David  Van  Ness,  Captain. 

Gotlop  Martin,  ist  Lieut. 

Frederick  Bender,  2nd  Lieut. 

Cornelius  Elmendorf,  Ensign. 


No.   5. 

Jacobus  Kip,  Captain. 
Everardus  Bogardus,  ist  Lieut. 
Jacob  Tremper,  2nd  Lieut. 
Benjamin  Van  Steenburgh,  Ensign. 


APPENDIX  B. 


48  r 


Beekman 

Capt.  Johanes  Dclonji's  beat. 

Cornelius  Van  Wyck,  Captain. 
Daniel  Lawrence,  ist  Lieut. 
Martin  Cornwell,  2nd  Lieut. 
Nathaniel  Carey,  Ensign; 

Cant.  Georg-c  Einnusrh's  beat. 

Win.  Clark,  Captain. 
Jonathan  Dennis,   ist  Lieut. 
Daniel  Uhl,  2nd  Lieut. 
Francis   West,  Ensign. 


Precinct. 

Capt.  Jo.  Har is'  beat 

Joseph  Reynolds,  Capt. 
Nathaniel  Smith,  ist  Lieut. 
John  Losee,  2nd  Lieut. 
Peter  Haris,  Ensign. 

Capt.  Mical  Vincent's  beat. 

Isaac  Vail,  Captain. 
Jesse  Oakley,  ist  Lieut. 
Edward  Addams,  2nd  Lieut. 
Stephen  Forgarson,  Ensign. 


Amenia    Precinct. 


No.    i. 

William  Barker,  Capt. 
Job  Mead,  ist  Lieut. 
Noah  Hopkins,  2nd  Lieut. 
Abner  Gillett,  Ensign. 

No.    2. 

Brinton  Paine,  Captain. 
Samuel  Waters,  ist  Lieut. 
Ichabod  Holmes,  2nd  Lieut. 
Jesse  Brush,  Ensign. 


No.    3. 

Joshua  Laselle,  Captain. 

Colbe  Chamberlain,  ist  Lieut, 
!  David  Doty,  2nd  Lieut. 

Elisha  Barlow,  Ensign. 
No.   4. 

Robert  Freeman,  Capt. 
!  Elijah  Smith,  ist  Lieut. 
;  Ezra  St.  John,  2nd  Lieut. 
!  Noah  Wheeler,  Ensign. 


A  return   made  August  i5th,  1775,  at  the  house  of  Jacob- 
Griffin,  of  persons  who  signed  the  Association  : 


Theods.  Van  Wyck, 
John  Brinkerhoff, 
Z.  Van  Voorhees, 
Garret  Storm, 
Cornelius  Sebring, 
D.  G.  Bnnkerhoff, 
Daniel  Ter  Boss, 
Richard  Van  WTyck, 
William  Van   Wyck, 
Joseph  Horton, 
Johannes  Wiltse, 
Gores  Storm, 
T.  Van  Wyck,  jr. 
Harvey  M.   Morris, 
Henry  Godwin, 
Thomas  Storm, 


John  Adriance, 
Henry  Schenck, 
Jacob  Swart wout. 
C.  Van  Wyck,  jr. 
Isaac  Sebring. 
Abm.  Brinckerhoff, 
Roelef  Schenck, 


Jesse  Bedell, 
Martin  Schenck, 
Peter  Monfoort, 
Mathias  Horton, 
Johans.  DeWitt,  jr. 
M.  Van  Bunschotenr 
James  Snediker, 


Abraham  Schenck,    Aaron  Brown, 

L.  E  VanBunschoten  J.  A.  Brinckerhoff, 


Isaac  Ter  Boss, 
Jacob  Griffin, 
David  Brower, 
Cornelius  Brower, 
Deriah  Hogland, 
William  Haskin, 
Peter  Horton. 


Abraham   Ter  Boss,, 
John  H.  Sleght. 
Jacobus  DeGraef, 
John  Mayer, 
J.  G.  Brinckerhoff. 
John  Langdon, 
George  Adriance., 

62 


482 

George  Ellsworth, 
Hendnck  Boerum. 
Daniel  Schenck, 


APPENDIX  B. 

Samuel  Gosline, 
John  Barray, 
James  Cooper, 


Jonathan  Langdan,    John  Cooper, 


James  Barnes, 
John  Ter  Bush, 
Cornelius  Adriance. 
John  Swartwout, 
William  Scouten,  jr. 


William  Tisdale, 

Joseph  Griffin, 

Daniel  Johnson, 

John  Maynema, 

Abm.  Van  Voorhis, 

Hendk.  Hardenburg,  Daniel  Reyner. 

Moses  Bedell,  Robert  Brett. 

Peter  Ter  Bush, 

John  Jewell,  jr. 

Alexander  Turner, 

James  Anning, 


John  Smith, 
Jacob  Balding, 
Caleb  Cornell, 
Isaac  Storm, 


Abram.   Van  Wyck,  Henry  Rosekrans, 
Steph.   BrinkerhofT,    Benjamin  Rosekrans 
Stephen  Osborne, 
Abm.  DeForeest, 


Geo.  Brinckerhoft 
John  Scouten, 
Joseph  Belding, 
J.     Scouten 

Jerry. 

Jacobus  Emans, 
James  Brown, 
Moses  Barber, 
•Abm.  L.  Losee, 
Samuel  Swartwout, 
William  Ward, 
Jacob  DuBois,  jr. 
Chas.  Elsworth, 
Jacob  Brinckerhotf, 
William  Holmes, 


Thomas  Simonton, 
son   of  Joseph  McCord, 
John  Cooper, 
Richard  King, 
J  VanVoorhis,  jr. 
Jonathan  Haight. 
Israel  Kniffin, 
Daniel  Kniffin, 
Jonathan   Kniffin, 
Walter  Heyer, 
Adrian  Bogert, 
Moses  Akerly, 
Luke  Ter  Boss, 


Thomas  Ostrander,   James  Miller, 

Godfrey  Heyn,  Cornelius  Osborne, 

N.  E.  Gabriel, 

Abraham  Morrell, 

G.  J.  Brinckerhoff, 

Christopher  Raun, 

James  Weekes, 

Isaac  Van  Wyck, 

Cornelius  Smith, 


Hugh  Conner, 
A.  J.  Lawrence, 

Nathl.  Fairchild 


Nicholas  Brower,  jr. 
John  Wright, 
Charles  Brewer, 
John  Ackerman, 
John  WTalters, 
James  Rathbun, 
Seth  Chase, 
Adolphus  Brower, 
Jacob  Brower, 
Simon  S.  Scouten, 


Daniel  G.  Wright,  jr. 
Joseph  Wiltse, 
Geo.  Van  Werkeren. 
Platt  Rogers, 
John  Lawrence, 
Jeremiah  Bedell, 
Joseph  Fowler, 
Jacob  Swartwout, 
Gideon  Way, 
Merinus  V.  Vlaikren, 
John  Leyster, 
Timothy  Saikryder, 
Zachariah  Boss, 
John  Bush,  jr. 
Josiah  Halstead, 
Peter  Noorstrant, 
>,  Jeremiah  Martin,  jr. 
William  Wright, 
Daniel  Canfield, 
Sab ure  Main, 
Johans.  Brinckerhoff 
Andrew  VanHyning, 
Abm.  Van  Amburgh, 
Moses  Saikryder, 
James  Rosekrans, 
Stephen  Doxey, 
Dirck  Hegerman, 
Jonathan  Talmagee, 
Solomon  Saikryder, 
James  Reynolds, 
George  Bump, 
Tunis  DuBois, 
James  Green, 
Obadiah  J.  Cooper, 
Peter  Clump, 
Abm.  Van  Tyne, 
J.  Van  Voorhis,  jr. 
Myndert  Cooper, 
John  Runnels, 
Thorn  is  Bump, 
Christopher  Schultz, 
Silvmus  Pine, 
Nathan  Ba'ley, 
John  Pullick, 


APPENDIX    B. 


483 


Austin  Fowler, 
Peter  Snyder, 
John  Gray,  jr. 
Gershom  Martine, 
Amos  Nettleton, 
John  Bennitt, 
Elihu  Emmitt, 


A.  H.  Van  Amburgh,  Walter  Moody,  jr. 


Jeremiah  Ranny,  C.  TerBush, 

David  Mowry,  David  Lyons, 

Joseph  Lee,  Edward  McKeeby, 

Dirck    Brinckerhoff,  Theods.  Brett, 

Zebulon  Southard,  John  McBride, 

Evart  W.  Swart,  O.  W.  Cooper, 

John  Bloodgood,  Timothy  Mount, 
Jonas  Southard, 


Jesse  Baker, 
Joshua  Hicks, 
Martin  Smith, 
Robert  Rogers, 
Thomas  Wright, 
William  Baker, 
Daniel  Wright, 
John  Watts, 
Johans.  Dewitt, 
Albert  Carley, 


John  Johnson, 
Simon  Ter  Bush, 
Thorn  Pudney, 
Francis  Pudney, 
Abraham  Ceasa, 
Stephen  Peudy, 
Henry  Carpenter, 
Austin  Fowler, 
Henry  Sherburne, 
Benjamin  Atwater, 


Henry  Van  Voorhis,  Jesse  Cornell, 


Martin  Wiltse, 
H.  Rosekrans,  jr. 
James  Kilburne, 
John  Runnels, 
Thomas  Bump, 


Timothy  Soaper, 

Peter  Van  Deursen 

Moses  Golph, 

Nathan  Lounsbury, 

Eliphalet  Platt, 

Christopher  Schults,  Jacobus  DeGroff, 

Sivinus  Pine,  E.E.VanBunschoten  Michael  Hoffman, 

Isaac  H.  Ter  Boss,     John  DeGrout,  Teunis  Wilsen, 

William    Somerdike,  J.  VanBunschoten,    Isaac  Cole, 
Philip  Pine,  Robert  Todd,  Peter  Stienbergh, 

Nathan  Bailey,  B.  J.  VanKleek,         Gideon  Ver  Velon, 

John  Pullick,  Jacobus  DeGroff,  jr.  Moses  DeGroff, 


James  Reynolds, 
George  Bump, 
Tunis  DuBois, 
James  Green. 
O.  J.  Cooper, 
Peter  Clump, 
Abram  VanTyne, 
Jacob  Van  Voorhis, 
Myndert  Cooper, 
Moses  Vanelin, 
Adam  Dates, 
William  Stanton, 
William  Teatsort, 
Isaac  Snider, 
Thomas  Lewis, 
Jacob  Cole, 
Abraham  Sleght, 


David  Pellet, 
John  Southard, 
Duncan  Graham, 
Elesa  DuBois, 
James  Duncan, 
Caleb  Briggs, 
James  Osburn, 
Isaac  Hegeman, 
James  Thurston, 
Joseph  Parker, 
Stephen  Thaiker, 
Abraham  Gray, 
John  Baker, 


Jacobus  Sleght, 
Simon  Bise, 
William  Lane, 
Ezra  Mead, 
James  Innes, 
Isaac  Smith, 
Peter  Hulst, 
David  Bennett, 
David  Horton, 
John  TerBush, 
Abraham  Schultz, 
Cornelius  Sebring, 
John  Pudney, 


Henry  Buys, 
Peter  Van  Kleek,  jr. 
Jeremiah  Mead, 
Jeremiah  Var  Velen, 
Thomas  Pinkney, 
Henry  Marten, 
Barthol  Hogeboom, 
Charreik  VanKeuren 
David  Dutcher, 
Deminicus  Monfort, 
William  Lane, 
Joseph  Totten, 
Andrew  Hill, 


484 

Johannes  Shame, 
Jeremiah  Jones, 
Lawrence  Herf, 
Peter  Outwater, 
Daniel  Outwater, 


APPENDIX  H. 

John  Culvert, 
P.  VanDervort,  jr. 
Simon  Leroy,  jr. 
John  Leroy, 
Jacob  Lane. 


T.  Van  Benschoten,  Thomas  Yeumans. 


Samson  Smith, 

Canstine  Gulnack, 

Albert  Terhum, 

J.   Houghteling, 

Abm.  Duryee,  jr. 

Clement  Cornwall, 

John  Tirhum, 

Peter  Deets, 

James  Culver, 

John  VerValin, 

Dennis  Culver, 

Peter  Polmetier, 

James  Culver,  jr. 

Lawrence  Conklin, 

Henry  Pelts, 

Herman  Rynden, 

Jacob  Backer, 

John  RoseKraus, 

Jacob  Coapman, 

Thomas  Johnson, 

Barent  Dutcher, 

Francis  May,  jr. 

Baltes  B.  Van  Kleek, 

Joshua  Smith, 

John  Leroy,  jr. 

Abm.  Cronckheit, 

Henry  Bell, 

John  Jewell, 

Jurrie  Hoffman, 

Isaac  Jewell,  jr. 

Jacob  Niffer. 

Cornelius  Wiltse, 

James  Rymden. 

Hemming  Higby, 

Andrew  Ostram. 

Peter  Lent, 

John  Ostram. 

[as.   Swartwout, 

FrederickRosekrans,  Isaac  Adriance, 
Peter  Van  Dewater,  Johannes  Boss, 
Barent  Van  Kleek,    Richard  Griffin, 
Sevaris  Van  Kleek,   Steph.  VanVoorhis. 
FrancisVan  Dewater  Jacob  Buys,  jr. 
P.  Van  Benschoten.  John  L.  Losee, 
J.  Van  Benschoten,   Jacob  Horton, 


Henry  T.  Wiltsey, 
John  Tappen, 
James  Davison, 
Henry  Burhanse, 
William  Hogelandt, 
Alijah  Patterson, 
Daniel  Tirhum, 
Abraham  A.  Lent, 
Tunis  Skeet, 
Cornelius  Vervie, 
Hugh  Laughlin, 
Francis  Hegeman. 


Corns.   Ostrander, 
Richard  Comfort, 
Abraham  Shear, 
Francis  Leroy, 
Abm.  Westervelt, 
Jost.  Westervelt, 
James  Howard, 
Cornelius  Griffin, 
William  Griffin, 
James    Vandewater 
Dalf  Swartwout, 
Garret  Benewav, 


Aaron  Brown,  jr. 
Abraham  Ladu, 
Cornelius  Swartwout 
Gilbert  Lane, 
William    Swartwout, 
Samuel  Roberts, 
Ebenezer  Clark, 
Frederick  Scutt, 
Jerome  NanVoorhis, 
Ham  J.  Adriance, 
John  Devoe, 
Jac's  Swartwout, 
Peter  Robinson, 
Moses  Shaw, 
J.  Van  Dewater, 
Zach.  VanVoorhis,  jr. 
William  Brock, 
Jacob  King, 
John  Hutchins, 
John  Darlon, 
James  Wildee, 
Richard  Avery, 
John  RoseKrans, 
Isaac  Hutchins, 
John  Yurkse, 
Abm.  Van  Wackere. 
Jacob  Hutchins, 
Thomas  Way, 
Abm.  DeWitt, 
John  Philips, 
Elbert  Munfort, 
Dan'l  Van  Voorhis. 
George  Jewell, 
John  Noorstrant, 
Peter  Schoonhove. 
Joshua  Griffin, 
Isaiah  Wilde, 
Isaac  Southard, 
William  Winslow, 
Edward  Churchill. 
Samuel  Todd, 
,  William  Roe, 
James  Miller, 
John  Phillips, 


William  Ardem. 
John  Griffin, 
John  Vanclervoort, 
Daniel  Shaw, 
Peter  Fitz-Simmons, 
Nathan  Burnes, 
John  Vermillie, 
Richard  Osborne. 
Peter  Johnson,  jr. 
Richard  Jewell, 
Jacob  Dubois, 
Jacob  Van  Dervoort. 
Peter  Meyer, 
John  Coffin. 
Ccenradd  Appleye, 
Joshua  Bishop, 
William  Van  Tyne, 
Daniel  Aiming. 
Daniel  Ward, 
William  Barker. 
John  Parks, 
Peter  Bogardus.  jr. 


APPENDIX  B. 

John  Davis, 
Sylvester  Bloom, 
John  Van  Sulen, 
John  Kipp, 
William  Brocks, 
Jacob  Van  Tassell, 
Stephen  Bates, 
Daniel  David, 
Isaac  Griffin, 
Peter  Montross, 
Isaac  Holmes. 
Aaron  Shute, 
Richard  Jackson, 
Dirck  Hardeburgh, 
Peter  J.  Monfort, 
Timothy  Talman, 
William  Earls. 
Peter  Bogart, 
Francis  Way, 
William  Fowler, 
Corns.   Brinckerhoff, 
Dennis  M'Shebeey, 


485 

Peter  Depung, 
William  Cushman, 
Garret  Hardenburgh 
Tobias  Mabie, 
John  Bogardus, 
Samuel  Somes, 
Nathan  Somes, 
Jonathan  Terry, 
Ralf.  Phillips, 
Isaac  Jewell, 
George  Bloom, 
Benjamin  Roe, 
Henry  Haines, 
Lawrence  Lawrence. 
Jonas  Cauniff, 
Isaac  A^eal, 
Robert  M'Cutcheon, 
Robert  Nichkilson, 
Elias  Conklin. 
Jesse  Purdy, 
Joseph  Ogden, 
Andrew  Renvells, 


Signers    in    Beekmans    Precinct,    Duchess     County,    July, 


1775- 

William   Humphrey, 
Joshua  Carman, 
Ebenezer  Cary, 
Charles  Platt, 
William  McNeal, 
William  Clark, 
Thomas  Ley. 
Samuel  Crandel, 
Maurice  Pleas, 
Thomas  Nethaway, 
Benoni  Sweet, 
Nathaniel  Stevenson, 
Nathaniel  Cary. 
Samuel  Lewis, 
Zebulon  Ross, 
Samuel  Gardner, 
Martin  Cornell, 
Benjamin  Noxon, 


Elial  Youmans, 
John  Forguson, 
Henry  Whikmon. 
Nuklus  Amey, 
Walton  Huling, 
John  Huling, 
Jacob  Miller, 
William  McDowell, 
Thomas  Cornell, 
Isaac  Dennis, 
James  Humfrey, 
Thomas  Spencer, 
William  Bently,  jr. 
F.  West, 
John  Jenkins, 
Aholyab  Markes, 
Arnold  Reynolds, 
Amos  Randall, 


John  Wightman, 
Whiten  Parkes, 
Jonathan   Dennis, 
Gideon  Hall, 
Jabez  Spencer, 
John  Eagles, 
John  Sweet, 
James  Wells, 
Job  Shearman, 
Joseph  Carr, 
Daniel  Uhl, 
William  Smith. 
Samuel  Sweet, 
Peter  Shear, 
Peter  Shear,  jr. 
Isaac  Yerrington, 
Peter  Storm, 
Josiah  Ingersoll, 


486 

James  McLees, 
Nathaniel  Wicks, 
John  Weaver, 
Edward  Howard. 
Benjamin  Forgason, 
Joseph  Reynolds, 
Maurice  Smith, 
Joseph  Taylor, 
Stephen  Johnson, 
James  M'Collom, 
Edward  Weaver, 
Gershom  Thorn, 
David  Sweet, 
John  Moon, 
Nicholas  Potter, 
William  Bently, 
Taber  Bently, 
Thomas  Baker, 
William  Spencer. 
Abel  Parker, 
James  Tanner, 
Joshua  Champlin, 
Abraham  Denne, 
Joseph  Denne, 
Richard  Mackrill, 
Jacob  Lain, 
John  Beam, 
Henry  Shear, 
Theophilus  Sweet, 
William  Hall, 
Joseph  Carr, 
Joshua  Champliesjr. 
Isaac  Vail, 
John  Arnold, 
Job  Tanner. 
Johannes  Delong, 
Hezekiah  Rogers, 
Ezekiel  Rogers, 
Griffin  Reynolds, 
Peter  Harris, 
William  Brewer, 
James  M.  Greedy, 
Abraham  Hyatt, 
Gilbert  Totten, 


APPENDIX  B. 

Edward  Tredwell, 
Elias  Alley, 
Isaac  Galton, 
Peter  Harris, 
Judiah  Jenkens,  jr. 
Jonathan  Jenkins,  jr. 
Thomas  Clark, 
John  Bently, 
Nial  Tripp, 
Daniel  Fish, 
Judiah  J.  Bush, 
Solomon  Force, 
John  Wooley, 
William  Tabor, 
Charles  Heayelton, 
John  Snider, 
Seth  Smith, 
Jacob  PZsmond, 
John  Sweet, 
P^lisha  Champlin, 
Joseph  Halloway, 
Jacob  Hutchins,  jr. 
Peter  Bull, 
Samuel  Cornwell, 
Joseph  Lawless,  jr. 
Peter  McGlus, 
John  Hopins. 
Zephaniah  Brown, 
Cornelius  VanWyck, 
Joshua  Carman,  jr. 
John  Melony, 
John  Andrews, 
James  Vosburgh, 
Jesse  Oakley, 
Tillinghest  Bently, 
Peter  Noxon, 
Thomas  Doxie, 
Henry  Pearsall, 
Garret  Mill, 
Johannes  Lain, 
Henry  Smith, 
John  Hill, 
Andrew  Cockrane, 
Timothy  Force, 


Clear  Everett, 
Benjamin  Force, 
Seth  Sprague, 
Benjamin  Spencer.. 
Samuel  Whitman, 
Mathew  Coon, 
John  Oats, 
James  Eastwood, 
Lewis  Shear, 
Israel  Vail, 
David  Storm, 
Jonathan  Jenkins, 
Ezekiel  Hubbard, 
Joseph  Bonier, 
Joshua  Mowry, 
Charles  Newton, 
Henry  Bailey, 
Francis  Losee, 
William  Shear, 
William  Champlin, 
Philip  Vincent, 
John  Vinton, 
Stephen  Forgoson, 
Jonathan  West, 
John  Kelley, 
Lodovick  Sweet, 
George  Sweet, 
David  Storm, 
Salmag.  Edwards, 
Stephen  Townsend, 
Joshua  Burch, 
David  Brill, 
Nicholas  Koons, 
Benjamin  Birdsell, 
Christopher  Wait, 
Ezekiel  Smith, 
Benjamin  J.  Rush, 
Isaac  J.  Rush, 
Rowland  Stafford. 
Nathaniel  Sweet, 
Casy  Eldridge,  jr. 
Johannes  Lossing.. 
Samuel  Tomson, 
Benjamin  Hall, 


Stephen  Mo\very, 
Cornelius    Maynarcl. 
Tobias  Clements, 
Nathaniel  Rogers, 
Andrew  Carman, 
Albert  Adriance, 
James  Wiltse, 
Samuel  Young, 
Daniel  Lawrence, 
William  B.  Alger, 
Job  Green, 
Wm.  Humphrey,  jr. 
Joseph  Carman,  . 
John  Hegeman, 
George  Losee, 
Johannes  Acker, 
France  Wiltse, 
Henry  Cornell. 
Abel  Simpson, 
Zachariali  Flader, 


APPENDIX  E. 

John  Reisoner, 
Nehemiah  Lester, 
John  Losee, 
William  Kelley, 
William  Barber, 
Nathaniel  Smith. 
Caleb  Townsend, 
Myndert  Harris, 
Obadiah  Cooper,  jr. 
John  Hicks, 
Peter  Leavens, 
Joel  Edget, 
Peter  Cartwright, 
George  Cronkkill, 
Jonathan  Alger, 
Jonathan  Parks, 
John   Fish, 
Woos  Dakin, 
Digmus  Kimrnee. 
John  Comptor, 


487 

John  Lamb, 
Jacob  Rouse, 
Elijah  Forgason, 
Elijah  Forgason.  jr. 
John  Conger, 
David  Pamer, 
David  Abbet, 
Matthew  Beck  with,. 
Abraham  Mosher,. 
David  Cash, 
Amos  Crandell, 
Pardon  Fish, 
Sylvanus  Cash, 
Thomas  Bullock,. 
Henry  Birdsell, 
Nathaniel  Sol, 
Ebenezer  Sol. 
David  Brown, 
Samuel  Ewery, 
Addom  Bockus. 


Signers  in  Poughkeepsie,  Duchess  County,  June  and  July. 

*775- 


Zephaniah  Platt. 
Peter  Tappen, 
Samuel  Dodge, 
William  Forman, 
John  Baily,  jr. 
Johannes  Swartwout, 
Pieter  Van  Klcer.k, 
John  Freer, 
Henry  Livingston,  jr, 
E.V.Van  Bunschten, 
Robert  North, 
Lewis  Dtibois, 
Andrew  Billings. 
Peter  Low, 
Samuel  Smith, 
James  Livingston, 
Richard  Davis, 
Law.  Van  Kleek, 
John  Mott, 
Rich.  V.  Denburgh, 


Ezekiah  Cooper, 
John  Schenck,  jr. 
Paul  Schenck, 
Jacobus  Freer, 
John  Romyne, 
Andrew  Wattles. 
Nathan  Tray, 
Barent  Lewis, 
Thomas  Holmes, 
J.  Van  Bunschoten, 
Abraham  Fort, 
Carel  Hoefman, 
Henry  HorT, 
Gorus  Storm, 
Thomas  Jacockes, 
Simon  Freer, 
John  Davis, 
Robert  Noa, 
Isiah  Bartly, 
John  Schenck,  jr. 


Hendrick  Pells, 
BarnardusSwartwout 
Francis  Jaycock, 
M.  Van  Keuren, 
Azariah  Winchester. 
Henry  Willsie, 
John  Willsie, 
William  Sawckes, 
Thomas  Burnett, 
Gideon  Boyse, 
Thomas  Bont, 
William  Lawson,  jr. 
Abr'm.  Van  Keuren. 
John  Saunders, 
John  Briener, 
Hans  Berner, 
Hendrick  Pells,  jr. 
Johannes  Kidney, 
Jacobus  Schryver, 
Henry  Hegeman,, 


488 

George  Sands, 
Hobert  Woddel, 
Myndert  VanKleeck 
Benjamin  Jaycock, 
Thomas  Rowse, 
Isaac  Poole, 
Jonathan  Johnson, 
Aaron  Reed, 
John  Pilgrit, 
Peter  Lossing, 
Peter  Horn, 
William  Burnett, 
James  Elderkin, 
John  Waterman, 
Johannes  Fort, 
Simon  W.   Lossing, 
Mat.  VanKeuren.  jr, 
Sylvan  us  Greet  vvaks, 
'Henry  Ellis, 
Henry  VanBlercome, 
Simon  Leroy, 
Henry  Kip, 
Benoni  Kip, 
A.braham  Ban  lay. 
M.  VanDenbogart, 
Isaac  Kornine,  jr. 
Alexander  Grigs, 
Simon  Bartlett, 
Peter  Tappen, 
Robert  North, 
Ezekiel  Coopar, 
William  Terry, 
Alexander  Haire, 
Thomas  Poole, 
Tennis  Tappen, 
Nathaniel  Hemsted, 
George  Brooks, 
Albo.  Watervell, 
William  Roach, 
Elias  Freer, 
Leonard   VanKleek, 
Richard  Snedeker, 
F.  VanDenbogart, 
Garrit  VanWTagenen, 


APPENDIX  B. 

Jas.  VanKleek, 
Henry  Bliss, 
Eli  Read, 
Peter  Low 
Larrine  Lossing,  jr. 
John  Dubois, 
Casparos  Westervelt, 
Lodovick  Sypher, 
Christian  Bush. 
Silvanus  Beckwith, 
Alex.  Chaucer, 
Caleb  Carmen,  Jr. 
John  VanKleeck, 
John  Seabmy,  jr. 
Nathaniel  Conklin, 
John  Townsend, 
Andrew  Billings, 
Samuel  Corey, 
Tohm.  Tappen, 
Henry  Dodge, 
Jones  Kelley, 
S.  Hendrickson, 
Nathaniel  Ashford, 
Andrew  Weeks. 
John  Ter  Bush, 
Cornelius  Noble, 
James  Brisleen, 
fohn  Maxneld, 
L.  J.  Van  Kleeck, 
Lewis  Dubois. 
Jacobus  Freer, 
John  Reed, 
Jacobus  Roades, 
William  Wilsey, 
Michael  Yerry, 
Ephriam  Adams, 
Joshua  Moss, 
S.  VanDenburgh, 
Nathaniel  Dubois, 
C.  R.  Westervelt, 
Cornelius  \Vestervelt 
C,  B.  Westervelt, 
P.  Andes  Lansing, 
William  Annely, 


Win.  D.  Lawson, 
John  C.  Ringland, 
Gerrit  VauVliet, 
Jeremiah  Dubois, 
Jacob  V.  Denburgh, 
John  Johnson, 
Abraham  Pitt, 
Samuel  Cooke, 
James  Winans, 
John  Seabury, 
William  Forman, 
Henry  Livingston, 
S.  VanVoorhees, 
John  Conkling, 
Mathew  Conkling, 
Thomas  Travis, 
Zachariah  Burwell, 
Tunis  Hannes, 
Mathew  DuBois, 
E.  VanBunschoten, 
Martin  Bush, 
Hendrick  Bush, 
James  Luckey, 
Samuel  Luckey, 
Abraham  Ferden, 
Peter  F.  Valleau, 
Peter  VanVliet, 
Robert  Hoffman, 
William  Jones, 
Jacob  Low, 
Bernardus  Swartnout 
J.  L.  VanKleeck, 
Minnard  Swartwout, 
John  Swartwout. 
Frederick  VanVliet, 
Lemuel  Howell, 
Abraham  Swartwout, 
Richard  Everett, 
Mathias  Sharp, 
John  C.  Hill, 
John.  T.  Van  Kleeck, 
Dorthir  Conner,  jr. 
James  Reed, 
Richard  Warner, 


William  Kelley, 
James  Lewis, 
•George  Shanhan, 
Wilhelmus  Ploegh, 
Geleyn  Ackerman, 
Joel  Dubois, 


APPENDIX  B. 

Peter  Mullin, 

Simon  Leroy.  Jr. 

David  Butcher, 

Peter  VanDewater, 

Edward  Symmonds.   Jacob  Ferris, 

Cornelius  Viele,          Omar  Ferris, 


489 


John  Robinson, 
John  Bailey,  jr. 
J.  VanDenBogart, 
Caleb  Carmen, 


The  following  is  a  true  return  of  the  names  of  the  Inhabi 
tants  and  Freeholders  of  the  District  allotted  to  us,  that  signed 
the  Association  : 


Samuel  Kie, 
Hugh  Rea, 
Elisha  Mead, 
Robert  Orr, 
John  Orr, 
Jehial  Mead, 
Joseph  Loggan. 
William  Smile, 
John   Crandle, 
Hugh  Orr, 
William  Parks, 
John  Bartell, 
Stephen  Edgast, 
John  A  very, 
George  Edgaat,  jr. 
Jonathan  Smith, 
John  Horn, 
Samuel  Crandell, 
William  Robbins, 
Peleg  Horton, 
Michael  Manrneld, 
Daniel  Wilson, 


Samuel  Mott. 
Ebenezer  Young, 
David  Love, 
Daniel  Parks. 
David  Hamblin, 
P.  Knickerbacker,  Sr. 
L.  Knickerbacker, 
P.  Knickerbacker,  jr. 
J.  Knickerbacker, 
P.obert  Wilson, 
James  Wilson,  jr. 
Moses  Fish, 
John  Carpenter, 
Barent  Van  Kleeck, 
John  Wilson, 
John  Carey, 
Gulman  Alitzer. 
Matthew  Orr, 
William  Rea. 
Joseph  Foster, 
Jesse  Ferris, 
Winthrop  Norton, 


Joseph  Palmer,  jr. 
Johnynal  Meton, 
James  Hedding, 
Silence  Jackson, 
Asahel  Owemer, 
Oliver  Evans, 
Seth  Fish, 
Isaac  Winans, 
Jeremiah  GifTers, 
James  Wilson,  Sen. 
Frederick  Stickles, 
John  Link, 
John   Fulton, 
John  Rouse, 
Edward  Edsel, 
Benjamin  Soule, 
John  Way, 
J.  Salisbury,  Sen. 
David  Bostwick, 
Elijah  Lake, 
Joseph  Palmer. 


P.  KNICKERBOCKER,   DANIEL  WILSON,    |_      Committee 
HUGH  ORR,  J.  REISENBURGER.  )  Northeast  Pr'c't 


Ebenezer  Bishop, 
Levi  Stalker, 
Cornelius  Fuller, 
David  Bulkley, 
Thomas  Crosby, 
Joseph  Jackson, 


David  St.  John, 
Thomas  Crosby,  jr. 
Renel  Seton, 
Benjamin  Crosby, 
John  Seton, 
Comfort  Stalker, 


Vincent  Foster, 
John  Wilkie, 
Ebenezer  Crane,   jr. 
Philip  Hart, 
Charles  Trupell, 
Wheaton   Robinson, 


Benjamin  Covey, 
fames  Coval, 
Caleb  Woodard, 


490  APPENDIX  B. 

Ebenezer  Merrit,  James  Winchell 

George  Morehouse,  Jonathan  Grenell, 

Levi  Rawlee,  Joseph  Stalker, 

Ebenezer  Crane,  Thomas  Townsend, 

DUCHESS  County.  Nine  Partners,  Northeast  "} 
Precinct,  July  5th,  1775,      J 

•The  above  is  a  true  return  of  the  names  of  those  in    this 
District  that  were  willing  to  sign  this  Association. 

Gov.  MOREHOUSE,  per  Sub  Committee. 


Duchess  County,  Amenia  Precinct, 


Simeon  Cook, 
Ichabod  Paine, 
William  Barker, 
Job  Mead, 
Jonathan    Shepherd, 
Elijah  Holmes, 
Isnel  Shepperd, 
Abner  Giliet, 
Jacob  Power, 
Barnabas  Paine,  jr. 
Noah  Hopkins, 
Elias  Besse, 
Ichabod  Paine,  jr. 
James  Barker, 
Noah  Wheeler, 
Daniel  Garnsey, 
Samuel  King,  jr. 
Benjamin  Brown, 
Mathew  Stevens, 
William  Finch, 
Joseph  Smith, 
Thomas  Lawrence, 
Ebenezer  Carter, 
Theoph.   Lockwood, 
Levi  Mayhew. 
John  Howard, 
William  Ford, 
Jesse  Kinne, 
Daniel  Shepherd, 
Roswell  Hopkins, 


Samuel  King, 
Abraham  Paine, 
John  Brunson, 
Simeon  Cook,  jr. 
James  Hebbard, 
Samuel  Shepherd,  j 
David  Bruster, 
Elihu  Paine, 
Asahel  Sherwood, 
John  Brunson,  jr. 
Elijah  Daily, 
Thomas  Corn  well, 
David  Giliet, 
Ebenezer  Ways, 
David  Rundel, 
Thorn  Putney, 
James  Elowo.th,  jr. 
Barzillai  Riidd, 
Rufus  Herri ck, 
Brinton   Paine, 
Judah  Burton, 
James  Betts, 
Benjamin  Holmes, 
John  McNeil, 
Samuel  Herrick, 
John  Curry, 
Shulel  Tyler, 
Jonathan  Brack,. 
David  Collin, 
Zebulon  Rudd, 


June  and   July,  1775. 

Peter  Morse, 
Paul  Johnson, 
Nathan  Spuer, 
Israel  Buck, 
John  Thayer, 
r.  Joseph  DeLavergne, 
Eben.  Jones, 
Jacob  Cook, 
Solomon  Wheeler, 
Thomas  Morey, 
James  Palmer, 
Elijah  Smith, 
Nehemiah  Dunham, 
Gardner  Giliet, 
Barnabas  Paine, 
Joseph  Backus, 
Elnathan  Spalding, 
Levi  Atwater, 
Elijah  Porter, 
John  Atwater, 
Ezra  Thurston, 
Samuel  Dodge, 
Thomas  Welch, 
Stephen  Herrick,  jr. 
Squire  Davis, 
Abel  Hebbard, 
Elisha  Adams, 
Ebenezer  Latimer, 
Ichabod  Holmes, 
Samuel  Waters, 


Justus  Wilson, 
William  Wynants,  jr. 
Jesse  Smith,  jr. 
Enoch  Crosby, 
John  Mordack, 
Ebenezer  Park, 
William  King, 
Grover  Bull, 
Isaac  Parks, 
Parrock  Sherwood, 
William  Corn  well, 
Samuel  Cornwell, 
Lewis  DeLavergne, 
Archibald  Farr, 
King  Mead, 
Seth  Wheeler, 
Robert  Wood, 
Zadock  Buck, 
Timothy  Tilson. 
Jacob  Spuer, 
John  Osborne, 
John  Mead, 
Grover  Buel.  jr. 
Barnabas  Cole, 
Jonathan  Allerton, 
Benjamin  Crofoot, 
Benjamin  Denton,  jr. 
Joel   Denton, 
Benjamin  Denton, 
Jacob  Reynolds, 
James  Beadle, 
Benjamin  Fouler, 
William  Knapp, 
Abner  Holmes, 
Nathan  Herrick, 
Isaiah  Mead, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Gabriel  Dickson, 
Timothy  Green, 
John  Holmes, 
Ezekiel  Johnson, 
William  Alsworth, 
John  Denny,  jr. 
William  Wi'lsey, 


APPENDIX  B. 

John  Bartow, 
Elijah  Roe, 
Isaac  Marks, 
James  Barnet, 
Gideon  Castle, 
Nathaniel  Cook, 
Benjamin  Vaun, 
Samuel  Holmes, 
Stephen  Minns, 
Jabez  Crippin, 
Laurence  Wiltsie, 
Joseph  Fowler, 
John  Denton, 
Eli  Burton, 
Sam'l  Thompson, 
John  Ford, 
John  Thurston, 
Wm.  McCollough, 
Jonathan  Fish, 
John  Farr, 
John  Douglass, 
David  Waters, 
Lemuel  Brush, 
Abraham  Slocum, 
John  Mead, 
John  Freeman, 
Joel  Wash  burn, 
Nathan  Gates, 
Thomas  Thomas, 
John  Seymour, 
Stephen  Warren. 
Eleazer  Gilson, 
Moses  Gillet, 
Lemuel  Shirtliff, 
Abiah  Mott, 
Samuel  WTest, 
John  Cline, 
Jehea  Rogers, 
Robert  Freeman, 
Abraham  Adams, 
Isaac  Burton, 
Daniel  Blaksly, 
Robert   Wilson, 
Joel  Ketcham, 


491 

Ebenezer  Hinns, 
Richard  Brush, 
Benjamin  Herrick, 
Edward  Perlee, 
Toest  Power, 
Elijah  Wood, 
Reuben  Wilson, 
Daniel  May, 
Moses  Harris,  jr. 
William  Reynolds, 
John  Barnet,  jr. 
James  Ford, 
John  Jones, 
Jason  Hammond, 
David  Trusdel, 
James  Mead. 
Alexander  Hewsonr 
Jared  Brace. 
Eliakim  Reed,  jr. 
Samuel  Dunham, 
John  Tomer, 
Martin  Delamater, 
Joseph  Doty, 
Samuel  Sniter. 
Joseph  Penoyer, 
Samuel  Johnson, 
Jeduthan  Gray, 
Ichabod  Rogers,  jr. 
Elijah  Freeman, 
Peter  Slavebean, 
Solomon   Shavelean, 
William  Blust, 
Monmouth  Purdy, 
Jacob  Elliot, 
Stephen  Reynolds, 
Joshua  Talent, 
Ezra  Cleavland, 
Samuel  Thompson, 
John  Coy, 
Stephen  Herrick, 
William  Adams, 
Ephraim  Ford, 
Abraham  Adams,  jr. 
Weight  Willeman, 


APPENDIX  B. 


Daniel  Davison, 
James  Dickson, 
Elisha  Latimore, 
John  Collins, 
Job  Wilk, 
Adin  Tubbs, 
Samuel  Jarvis, 
Lot  Levitt, 
John  Boyd, 
Mathew  Vandeusen, 
Nathaniel  Swift, 
Eleazer  Morton. 
Isaac  Osburn, 
Jonathan  Hunter, 
Samuel  Swift, 
Benjamin  Crippen, 
David  Payne, 
Seth  Kelly, 
Nathaniel  Pinney, 
Ebenezer  Bosse, 
Joseph  Grey, 
Josiah  Marsh, 
James  Smith,  jr. 
Beriah  Thomas, 
Isaac  Burton,  jr. 
Nathaniel  Foster, 
John  Drake, 
David  Brown, 
William  Moulton, 
Ezra  Bryan, 
James  Allen, 
John  Benedict, 
Versal  Dickinson, 
William  Brush, 
Platt  Smith, 
Josiah  Webb, 
Sylvester  Handley, 
Elijah  Hinns, 
Samuel  Benedict, 
John  Bennet. 
Jared  Rundel, 
Joel  Thurston, 
Asahel  Winegar, 
Reuben  Doty, 


William  Hunt, 
Nicholas  Row, 
Samuel  Gray, 
Simeon  Reed, 
Samuel   Southworth, 
Elisha  Hollifler, 
Benjamin  Maxam, 
Samuel  Palmer, 
Obadiah  Mathews, 
Daniel  Sage, 
James  Chapman, 
Daniel  Harvey, 
Thed.  Wanning. 
Amos  Penoyer, 
Joseph  Gillet, 
James  B.  Rowe, 
Abner  Shabalier, 
Jonas  Adams, 
Thomas  Ailey, 
David  Randle, 
Benjamin  Sage, 
Moses  Brown, 
John  Scott, 
Gerardus  Gates, 
Elkanah  Stephens. 
John  Mears, 
Geroham  Reed, 
Moses  Barlow, 
Solomon  Armstrong, 
Thomas  Ganong, 
Elihu  Beard,  jr. 
Nathan  Palmer, 
John  DeLemetter, 
Wm.  Chamberlain, 
William  Hall, 
Robert  Freehart, 
.Andrew  Stephens, 
Josiah  Cleavland, 
John  Connor, 
Richard  Larrabe, 
Zedekiah  Brown, 
Henry  Barnes, 
Jonah  Barnes, 
Benjamin  Johns, 


Ebenezer  Larrabe, 
Ezra  St.  Johns, 
Obed  Harvey, 
Robert  Patrick, 
Nathan  Barlow, 
Simson  Hellsy, 
Zadoc  Knapp, 
Benjamin  Hollister, 
John  Sackett,  jr. 
Robert  Hebard, 
Joshua  Losel, 
John  Merchant, 
Daniel  Castle, 
Abraham  French, 
Levi  Orton, 
Peter  Klyn. 
Ledyard  J.  Charts, 
Isaac  Delamater, 
Thiel  Lamb, 
Benjamin  Delane, 
Daniel  Webster, 
Samuel  Judson, 
William  Mitchell, 
Henry  Winegar, 
William  Young, 
John  Barry, 
James  Reed, 
John  Chamberlain, 
Colbe  Chamberlain, 
Elijah  Reed, 
Seelye  Trowbridge, 
Asa  Fort, 
Barnabas  Gillet, 
Elijah  Smith, 
John  Lloyd, 
Ephraim  Besse, 
Robert  Johnson, 
Jonathan  Pike, 
Gilbert  Willett, 
Thomas  Mygatt, 
Isaac  Lamb, 
Elias  Shavilier, 
Ezra  Reed, 
Dan.  Barry, 


David  Doty, 
John  Sackett. 
Garrett  Winegar. 
Walter  Lathrop. 
Ezekiel  Sackett. 
Increase  Child, 
Elisha  Carlow, 
Corns.  Atherton, 


APPENDIX  B. 

Reuben  Doty, 
Sylvannus  Nye, 
Edmund  Bramball, 
Stephen  Delano, 
Obed  Harvey,  jr. 
Silas  Roe, 
Nathaniel  Gates, 
Caleb  Dakin, 


493: 

George  Sornburgh, 
FrederickSornburgh, 

Isaac  Darrovv, 
Joseph  Adams, 
Conrad  Winegar.. 
Silas  Marsh, 
Bower  Slason. 
Seth  Dunham. 


Signers  in  Rhinebeck  Precinct,  Duchess  County. 


Petrus  TenBroeck, 
P.  G.  Livingston, 
George  Sheldon. 
William  Beam. 
John  VanNess, 
Herman  Hoffman. 
Ananias  Cooper. 
David  VanNess, 
Egbert  Benson. 
Jacoc  Hermanse. 
Andrias  Hermanse. 
Peter  Hermanse, 
Zach.  Hoffman,  jr. 
Martin e  Hoffman, 
Zach  arias    Hoffman, 
Abraham  Cole, 
James  Everett. 
William  Pitcher,    jr. 
Jacob  More,  jr. 
Christian  Mohr. 
Lodowick  Ensell, 
Isaac  Wai  work. 
Samuel  Green, 
Peter  T raver, 
Andrew  Simon. 
Jacob  Fisher. 
Samuel  Elmandorph, 
Zacharias  Backer, 
Johannes  Hannule, 
Johannes  Richter. 
Levi  Jones, 
Isaac  Cole. 


Hendrick  Miller, 
Simon  Coel,  jr. 
Frederick  Weir, 
John  Banks, 
H.  I.  Knickerbocker, 
William  Tuttle, 
Stephen  Sears. 
Joseph  Ellsworth. 
Jacob  Thomas, 
Philip  Fuller, 
Harm  en  Whitbeck, 
Evart  Vosburgh, 
[ohn  Moore, 
Petrus  Backer, 
Jonnes  Backer, 
Coenradt  Lescher, 
Michael  Sheffel, 
Goetlieb  Mardin. 
Hendrick  Mardin. 
David  Martin, 
Cornelius  Swart, 
James  Adams, 
Daniel  Ogden, 
Joseph  Younck, 
Christian  Fero, 
Reyer  Schermerhorn 
Wilhelmus  Smith. 
Frederick  Moul, 
George  Reystorf, 
Joseph  Rogers, 
Benjamin   Bogardus, 
Hans  Kierstead, 


Isaac  Kipp. 
Jacob  J.  Kipp. 
Philip  J.  Moore, 
Nicholas  Hoffman.. 
John  Williams, 
Joseph  Lawrence. 
Jeab  Vosburg, 
James  Douglass. 
John  Garrison, 
Nicholas  Hermanse. 
Philip  Bonastcal. 
Simon  C.  Sole. 
Andres  Michel. 
John  Lewis, 
Christeaun  Miller. 
William  Klum, 
Johannes  Miller. 
Jacob  Schermerhorn. 
C.  Schermerhorn. 
Reyer  Hermans, 
Jacob  Hermanse, 
William  Pitcher, 
Wilhelmus  Pitcher; 
John  Hermanse. 
Godfrey  Gay, 
Hendrick  Teter. 
Johannes  Smith. 
Jeab  Meyer, 
William  Harrison, 
Christoff  Schneyd, 
Christopher  Fitch, 
John  Schermerhorn. 


494 


APPENDIX    B. 


Henry  Waterman,  jr.  Henry  Shop, 
Jeab  Waterman,         John  Balist, 


Peter  Scoot, 
Jonathan  Scoot, 

Helmes  Heermanse,  John  Mitchell, 

Corn.  Elmendorph,    Simnn  Schoot,  Jr. 

Philip  Staats, 

John  Staats, 

Peter  Staats, 

Isaac  Beringer,  jr. 

William  Waldorn, 

Frederick  Benner, 

John  Hermanse, 

Stoffle  Waldorn, 

Johannes  Benner, 

George  Sharp, 

Jacob  Elemendorph,  Christeaun  Backer,    Lemuel  Mulford, 
Jan  Elmendorph,        William  RadclifT,        James  Lewis, 

H.  Waldorph,  jr. 

Henrich  Benner, 

Jacob  Moul,  Sen. 

B.  Van  Steenburgh,  Andrew  Bowan, 

Johns.  Van  Keuren,  Martines  Burger, 

Tobias  Van  Keuren,  Johannes  Scutt, 

John  Klum,  Jacob  Sickner,  jr. 

Godfrey  Hendrick,    Barent  V.  Wagenen 

Jacob  Beringer,          William  Dillman, 

John  Bender,  Cornelius  Miller, 

Zacharias  Whiteman  Simon  Millham, 


Henry  Beekman, 
Evert  V.   Wagner, 
Art.  V.  Wagener, 
Philip  Hermanse, 
Thomas  Lewis, 
Hendrick  Livey, 
Everhart  Rydders, 
Henry  Kuncke, 
George  Stetling, 
Elias  Hinneon, 
Samuel  Haines, 
Peter  Ledervyck, 


Patt  Hogan, 
Evart  Hermanse, 
John  Cole, 
Petrus  Pitcher, 
Zacharias  Root, 
Edward  Wheeler, 
Peter  Hoffman, 
William  Beringer, 
Conrad  Beringer, 
Henry  Klum,  jr. 
C.  Osterhoudt, 
Peter  Cole, 
Simon  Kod, 
Jacob  Maul, 


William  Schoot,  Jr. 

Jacob  Lewis, 

Jacobus  Kip, 

William  Skepmus, 

Johannes  P.  V.  Wood, 

John  Haass, 

V.  Frad en  burgh, 

R.  J.  Kip, 

P.  VanFradenburgh, 

David  Mulford, 


Peter  DeWitt, 
John  Pawling, 
Albartus  Sickner, 


Joseph  Hebart, 
William  Schultzs, 
John  Blair, 


Everardus  Bovardee,  Thomas  Greves, 


Simon  Westfall, 
Jacob  Tremper, 
Henry  Litmer, 
John  Mares, 
Isaac  Mares, 
James  Ostrander, 


Michael  Schatzel, 
Peter  Shopf, 
Hendrick  Moon, 
Herri ck  Bern 


rger, 

Johannes  Turck, 
John  White,  jr. 

Christopher  Weaver,  John  Cowles, 
Peter  Westfall,  jr.      Herman  Duncan, 
Henry  Gisselbergh,    John  Denness, 
W.Van  Vredenburgh  William  Waldron, 
Jacob  Kip,  Cornelius  Demond, 

Jacob  A.  Kip,  S.  V.  Bunscoten, 


Jacob  Millham, 
Lawrence  Millham, 
John  Weaver,  jr. 
Benj.  Osterhoudt, 
Henry  Burgess,  jr. 
Uriah  Bates, 
William  McClure, 
Joshua  Chember, 
Jacob  Sickner, 
J,  VanAken, 
Peter  VanNauker, 
Jacob  N.  Scriver, 
Paul  Gruber, 
Solomon  Powell, 
Henry  Bull, 
George  Bull, 


John  Tremper, 


B.  Van  Vredenburgh,  William  Powell, 


APPENDIX  B.  495 

Caspar  Haberlan,  Nicholas  Stickle,  jr.   Peter  Radcliff, 

Thomas  Humphry,  Abraham  Scott,          C.  Wenneberger, 

Christ.  Deninarh,  William   Troophage,  Johannes  Benner, 

Abraham  Westfall,  Alexander  Campbell,  Jacob  Benner, 

John  McFort,  Abraham  Kip,  Jacob  Folant, 

William  Carney,  Peter  Brown,  John  Rogers, 

Philip  Feller,  jr.  Jacob  Shultz,  Nicholas  Stickle, 

Nicholas  Binestal,  John  Huffman,  Jacob  Tell, 

Philip  Binestal,  jr.  Henry  Freligh,  jr.      John  Sater, 

Zach  Neer,  R.  Vhoevanburgh, 


The  New  York  Journal,  first  established  in  the  city  of  New 
York  by  John  Holt,  in  1734,  was  removed  to  Poughkeepsie  in 
1776,  in  consequence  of  the  British  occupation.  In  1785  its 
name  was  changed  to  77/6'  Poughkeepsie  Journal,  in  1786  to 
the  Country  Journal  and  Poughkeepsie  Advertiser,  \\\  1789  to 
The  Country  Journal  and  Duchess  a/id  Ulster  Family  Register, 
in  1808  to  77/6'  Poughkeepsie  Journal  and  Constitutional 
Republican,  in  1812  to  The  Poughkeepsie  Journal,  in  184411 
was  united  with  The  Eagle,  and  in  1850  its  name  was  changed 
to  THE  POUGHKEEPSIE  EAGLE,  under  which  title  it  is  still 
published  by  Platt  &  Platt. 

The  New  York  Packet  and  American  Advertiser,  by  Samuel 
Louden,  was  removed  from  New  York  when  the  British  took 
possession  of  the  city,  and  was  first  issued  at  Fishkill  October 
ist,  1776.  It  was  again  removed  to  New  York  after  the  war. 

The  Barometer,  commenced  by  Isaac  Mitchell  in  1802,  was 
changed  to  The  Political  Barometer  in  1809.  and  next  to  The 
Northern  Politician^  and  was  soon  after  discontinued. 

77/<?  Farmer  was  published  in  Poughkeepsie  in  1806-7. 

77/6'  Republican  Herald  was  started  in  Nov.  181 1,  by  Stock 
holm  and  Brownjohn,  and  was  continued  until  1823. 

The  Duchess  Observer  was  first  started  in  May  18)5,  by 
Barnum  and  Nelson,  and  in  1856  it  was  united  with  The 
Telegraph,  and  issued  as  The  Poughkeepsie  Telegraph  and 
Observer.  In  1841  it  was  changed  to  The  Telegraph,  and  was 
published  by  Killey  and  Lossing.  In  1852  it  was  united  with 
The  Democrat,  and  issued  as  The  Poughktepsie  Telegraph  and 
Duchess  Democrat.  It  is  now  issued  as  THE  POUGHKEEPSIE 
TELEGRAPH,  by  E.  B.  Osborne. 


496  APPENDIX  B. 

The  Republican  Telegraph  was  first  issued  in  May,  1824.. 
by  Wm.  Sands  and  Isaac  Platt. 

The  Duchess  Intelligencer  was  first  issued  April  1828,  by 
Ames  &  Parsons.  In  1833  it  was  united  with  the  Republican^ 
and  in  1834  its  name  was  changed  to  the  Poughkeepsie  Eagle ^ 
and  in  1844  it  was  united  with  the  [ournal. 

The  Duchess  Inquirer  was  started  in  August  1829,  by  Peter 
KL.  Allen.  In  1830  it  was  changed  to  the  Anti- Mason,  and 
was  discontinued  the  following  year. 

The  Poughkeepsie  Cask?tw&  published  by  Killey  &  Lossing 
in  1836. 

The  Free  Press  was  started  in  Fishkillin  1841,  by  Frederick 
W.  Ritter.  In  1842  it  was  removed  to  Poughkeepsie,  and  its 
name  changed  to  the  Duchess  Free  Press,  and  was  continued 
until  1844. 

The  Anti-Bank  Democrat  (monthly)  was  issued  from  the 
office  of  the  Free  Press  in  1843. 

The  American  was  started  in  November  1845,  by  Augustus 
T.  Cowman,  afterward  changed  to  the  Poughkeepsie  American, 
and  in  1853  to  the  Duchess  Democrat.  In  1856  it  was  united 
with  the  Telegraph. 

The  Daily  City  Press  was  commenced  at  Poughkeepsie  in 
May,  1852,  by  Nichols,  Bush  &  Co.  It  was  soon  changed  to 
THE  DAILY  PRESS,  which  is  still  issued  by  E.  B.  Osborne. 

The  Independent  Examiner  was  started  in  February  1855 
by  Henry  A.  Gill,  and  was  discontinued  in  1858. 

The  American  Banner  was  started  at  Poughkeepsie  in 
1856  by  Charles  J,  Ackert.  In  1857  it  was  removed  to  Fish- 
kill  and  changed  to  Duchess  Co.  Times. 

THE  FISHKILL  STANDARD  was  started  in  August  1842,  at 
Fishkill  Landing,  by  Wm.  R.  Addington,  and  is  now  issued  by 
J.  W.  Spaight. 

THE  FISHKILL  JOURNAL  was  started  in  1853  by  H.  A. 
Guild,  and  discontinued  in  1855.  It  was  again  revived,  and 
is  now  issued  by  G.  W.  Owens. 

THE  RHINEBECK  GAZETTE  was  established  in  1846  by  Smith 
&  Carpenter,  and  in  1850  was  united  with  the  Mechanic.  It  is 
now  in  charge  of  W.  W.  Hegeman. 

The   American   Mechanic   was  started  in    Poughkeepsie  in 


APPENDIX  B.  497 

1849  by  Geo.  W.  Clark.  It  was  removed  to  Rhinebeck  and 
united  with  the  Gazette,  in  1850. 

The  Rhinebeck  Advocate  was  published  by  Robert  Marshall 
in  1840.  It  was  then  changed  to  the  Duchess  County  Advocate. 
Discontinued  about  1850. 

THE  AMENTA  TIMES  was  started  in  Amenia  in  April  1852, 
under  the  charge  of  Joel  Benton.  It  is  now  published  by 
DeLacey  &  Walsh. 

THE  RED  HOOK  JOURNAL  was  commenced  in  April  1859, 
by  L.  Piester,  and  is  now  published  by  A.  Piester. 

The  Paw  ling  Pioneer  was  started  in  Pawling  in  1870,  by 
P.  H.  Smith,  and  was  discontinued  in  1875. 

THE  DUCHESS  FARMER  was  established  in  1869,  by  Egbert 
B.  Killey,  and  is  now  issued  by  Mrs.  N.  S.  Killey. 

THE  DAILY  NEWS  was  commenced  in  1868,  by  T.  G. 
Nichols.  It  is  now  published  by  John  O.  Whitehouse. 

THE  SUNDAY  COURIER  was  first  issued  Dec.  i5th,  1872.  by 
T.  G.  Nichols,  by  whom  it  is  yet  published. 

THE  WAPPINGERS  CHRONICLE  was  started  in  1870  by  D.  S. 
Dougherty. 

THE  MATTEAWAN  OBSERVER  was  commenced  in  1876,  by  P. 
H.  Vosburgh. 

THE  WAPPINGERS  ERA  was  first  issued  in  1876,  by 
Winch  ell  &  Roman. 

THE  MILLERTON  JOURNAL  was  established  in  1876,  by 
Eggleston  &  Deacon. 


FAMILY   GENEALOGY. 

COLE. — Joseph  Cole,  m.* Smalley;  left  Jotham,  Elisha, 

Joseph,  Daniel,  Nathan,  Ebenezer,  John,  Eunice  Merritt  (i), 
Crosby  (2),  Hannah  Hopkins,  Priscilla  Towmend,  and  Mercy 
Ballard.  Elisha  m.  Charity  Hazen ;  left  Reuben,  Obadiah, 
Daniel,  David,  Elisha,  John,  Joshua,  Elizabeth  Agor,  and  Hannah 
Baxter.  Joseph  m.  Hannah  Berry ;  left  Berry,  Joseph,  Samuel, 
Nathan,  Asahel,  Levi,  Ramah,  Anna  Green,  Susannah  Nichols, 

*  Abbreviations.— in.  stands  for  married,!),  for  born,  d.  died;  (1)  and  (2)  signifies 
husband  or  wife  bv  the  first  or  second  marriage.  The  -words  in  italics  denote  the  names 
assumed  after  marriage. 

f2 


498  APPENDIX  B. 

Ruth  Chase,  Cynthia  Hopkins.  Daniel  m.  Susannah  Ogden  ; 
left  John,  Daniel,  Jesse,  Elisha,  Margaret  Hall '(i),  Wilson(2), 
Sally  Hall,  Polly  Frost,  Viola  Norton,  Hannah  Cole. 

BELDEN. — Silas  Belden,  b.  1717,  m.  Jane  Knickerbacker, 
b.  1721.  Left  Silas,  Mary,  Abigail,  Lawrence,  Catherine,  Jane, 
and  Elizabeth.  Silas  m.  Dorcas  Gillett ;  left  Joseph,  Dorcas, 
Sally,  Eliphal,  Jane  and  Lois.  Lawrence  m.  Susannah  Wheel 
er  ;  left  Mary,  John,  Elizabeth  Simmons,  Sarah  Nase,  Susan 
Gregory,  Catherine  Perry,  Silas,  Jr.,  and  Lawrence,  Jr.  Jane 
m  John  Tabor ;  left  Oscar.  Jane  Ann,  Emeline  Preston, 
Charles,  Maria,  William.  Lois  m.  James  Ketcham ;  left 
Maria  Mabbett,  David,  John  M.  Joseph  m.  -  - —  Tabor  ;  left 
Tabor,  Silas,  Hannah  Ketcham,  Silas  T.,  Lois  Beny,  Eliza 
Allerton.  John  m.  Hannah  DeForest ;  left  Henry,,  George, 
Charles,  William,  David,  Lawrence,  Belden.  Silas  m.  Jane  M. 
Gregory;  left  Uriah,  Jane  Ann,  John  H.,  Sarah  K.  Stevens, 
David  K.,  Francis  G.  Lawrence,  Jr.,  m.  Louisa  K.  Gregory ; 
left  Charles  H.,  Theodore  E.,  Mary  A.  Tabor  m.  Myra  Aller 
ton  ;  left  Lucy  Stevens,  Joseph,  Ann  E.,  Maria.  Silas  T.  m. 
Cornelia  A.  Northrop;  left  Harriet  L.  Evans,  William  N., 
George  T.,  Mary  E. 

PEARCE. — John  Pearce  left  Nathan  Pearce,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Spink,  and  left  Ephraim,  Nathan,  Col.  William,  Me- 
hitable  Walker,  -  -Potter.  Col.  William  m.  Chloe  Cary  (i) ; 
left  Abigail  S/ierman,  Henry,  Benoni,  Mary  Halloway ;  m. 
Lydia  Birdsall  (2) ;  left  William,  Lydia  Howland.  Henry  m. 
Rebecca  Birdsall ;  left  Sarah  Howland,  Amy  Stark,  Roxana 
Stark,  Henry,  Benoni,  Nathaniel,  Rebecca  Shove.  Benoni  m. 
Lydia  Dodge ;  left  Nathan. 

AKIN. — David  Akin  m.  Sarah • ;    left  John,  Jonathan. 

John  m.  Margaret  Hicks;  left  John,  Jr.,  Abigail  Toffey,  Ann 
Worth,  Sarah  Wanzer,  Molly  Fen-is.  Jonathan  m.  Lillius 
Ferris;  left  Isaac,  William,  and  Peter.  John,  Jr.,  m.  Molly 
Ferris ;  left  Albro,  Daniel,  Sally  Tibbets,  Ann  Field,  Margaret 
Vanderburgh,  and  Amanda  Jacacks.  Albro  m.  Paulina  Van- 
derburgh  (i^;  left  Albert  J.,  Almira  V.  Jones,  and  Helen  M. 
Taylor-,  Sarah  Merritt  (2) ;  Jemima  Jacacks  (3) ;  left  Mary  J., 
William  H.,  Cornelia,  Gulielma,  Amanda.,  Annie,  Caroline. 
Isaac  m.  Anna  Wing;  left  Jonathan  and  Martha  Merritt. 
William  m.  -  -  Carey ;  left  Oliver,  Frederick,  Ebenezer, 
David,  Helen  Taber,  Martha  and  Caroline.  Peter  m.  - 
Ferris ;  left  Matthew,  William,  Isaac,  Lillius  Leach,  - 
Skidmore. 


APPENDIX  B.  499 

VANDERBURGH. — James  Vanderburgh  m.  Margaret  Noxon 
(i)  ;  left  Elizabeth  Cornwell  (i),  Bently  (2),  Henry,  Bartholo 
mew,  James,  Jun  ,  Magdalena,  Peter  and  Stephen  ;  Helena 
Clark  (2)  ;  left  William,  Margaret,  Richard,  Gabriel  Ludlow, 
Egbert  Benson,  Clarissa,  George  W.,  Paulina,  Almira,  Federal 
and  Caroline.  Elizabeth  m,  John  Cornwell  (i) ;  left  John  and 
Polly  ;  Taber  Bently  (2) ;  left  Helen,  Eliza  Austin,  Magdalen 
Coffin,  James,  William,  Hallet,  Helen  Sweet.  Henry  m.  Getty 
Cary;  left  Margaret,  John,  Lewis,  Martin,  Susan,  Richard, 
Catherine,  Lucinda,  Fanny  Sturges,  Maria  Flagler,  Eliza 
Dutton.  James,  Jr.,  m.  -  -  Roseceaull  (i) ;  left  Henry, 
James,  Joshua,  Polly,  Depew,  Phebe  Hulse ;  m.  -  -  Jessup 
(2) ;  left  Jane,  Caroline,  and  Federal.  Peter  m.  —  -  Whit-' 
lock  ;  left  Louisa,  Cecilia  Everson,  Harriet  Matheson,  John, 
James.  Margaret  Vanderburgh  m.  —  -  Hamlin  ;  left  Clarissa 
Nelson,  Paulina,  Pamela,  Fanny  Lee,  Caroline,  Harriet  Bryan, 
James,  Almira  Simpson,  John,  and  Maria  Babcock.  Richard 
m.  -  -  Russell ;  left  Reuben,  and  Lydia  Curtis.  Gabriel 
Ludlow  m.  -  -  Akin  ;  left  Jane  Wells,  Frederick  H.,  John 
James,  Annie  A.  Thompson.  Clarissa  m.  -  -  Van  Wyck ; 
left  Eliza  Miller,  Robert,  James,  Cornelius,  Rodman,  Gilbert, 

George,    Almira     Wait,    Caroline  Miller.     Geo.   W.   m.  • • 

Haxtun  ;  left  Rhoda,  Helen  Tomlinson,  James,  Benjamin 
Haxtun,  and  Amelia  Sterling.  Paulina  m.  Albro  Akin  ;  left 
Albert  J.,  Almira  Jones,  Helen  Taylor.  Federal  Van.  m.  - 
Bordman  ;  left  lA&iy  James,  and  Charlotte  McKim.  Catherine 
m.  -  —  Rowland ;  left  Adeline  Brown,  Helen  Coffin,  Mary 
Wheeler. 

BRILL.— John  Brill,  m.  Elizabeth  Peck;  left  John  I.  Brill, 
John  I.  m.  Hannah  Cornell ;  left  Henry,  Solomon,  William, 
Daniel,  Cornell,  Philip  F.,  Polly  Adriance,  Elizabeth  Doughty, 
Hannah  Sherman,  Almira  Lamoree.  Henry  m.  Elizabeth 
Dennis ;  left  Solomon,  Isaac  D.,  John  H.,  Phebe  Holmes, 
Daniel,  Horatio,  Tamer  Cypher,  Cyrenius,  Frederick,  Hannah. 
Daniel  m.  Maribeth  Doughty;  left  Mary  Peters,  George,  John, 
Jacob,  Thomas,  Ricketson,  Henry,  Elizabeth  Rogers,  and 
Charles.  Cornell  m.  Polly  Ricketson  (i);  left  Jemima,  and 
Rowland  ;  Eleanor  Emigh,  (2) ;  left  Mary  Elizabeth.  Polly 
Brill  m.  Jacob  Adriance  (i);  left  Charles,  Caroline  Rogers, 
John,  Jacob,  and  William;  m.  John  Hopkins  (2),  left  Benja 
min,  Gilbert,  Sarah  Knox,  and  Solomon.  Elizabeth  m.  Joseph 
Doughty  (i);  left  Hannah  M.  Sheldon,  Sophia  Sheldon,  Thomas 
J.,  Phebe  J.  Hopkuis ;  m.  Jay  Doughty  (2);  left  Joseph,  Eliza- 


500  APPENDIX  B. 

beth  and  Sarah.  Hannah  m.  Benjamin  Sherman;  left  John, 
Charles,  Alexander,  Maria,  Walter,  Phebe  E.  Cary,  and  Wil 
liam.  Almira  m.  Daniel  Lamoree,  left  Elizabeth,  John,  Martha, 
Mary,  William,  and  Armini. 

FERRIS. — Zachariah  Ferris  had  a  son  Benjamin,  who  had 
a  son  Reed.  These  were  the  ancestors  of  the  Ferris  family  in 
DUCHESS  COUNTY.  Edmond  Ferris  m.  Sarah  Akin  (i);  left 

John  ;  m. Taber   (2);    left    Thomas    Taber,    and  Hannah 

Morehouse.  John  m.  -  — •  Clock;  left  John  A.,  Henrietta, 
Abigail  Sheldon,  and  Orange.  Thomas  Tabor  m.  Margaret 
Seaman;  left  Jane  Ann,  Edwin  R.,  John  G.,  Reid,  and  William 
.H.  Hannah  m.  -  —  Morehouse;  left  Albert.  Edmond  m. 

-  Burch  (3);  left  Oliver,  Ira,  Willett,  Amy  Morehouse, 
Deborah  Burdick,  and  Sophia  Johnson ;  m.  -  -  Birdsall  (4); 
left  Nancy,  Minerva,  Matilda,  Sally,  Priscilla,  Philo,  Horace, 
Ransom,  Garrett,  Alfred.  Willett  Ferris  m.  Margaret  Salmon; 
left  Herman,  Cynthia  Ann  Newman,  John,  Jane  Cook,  James, 
Perry,  George,  Louisa  Dcnton.  Horace  Ferris  m.  - 
Bently;.  left  Clarissa,  Matilda  Corbin,  Walter,  Ellen,  Mary,  Jane, 
Phebe,  Edmond,  Eliza,  Elmore,  Alfred,  Louisa,  Richard,  and 
Leroy. 

LATTIN. — Benjamin  Lattin  m.  Deborah  Holmes  (i) ;  left 
Leah  Wood,  Josias,  Adolphus,  Nathaniel  and  William  ;  m. 
Freelove  Wright  (2);  left  Deborah  Wood,  Wright,  Benjamin, 
Jun.,  Sally  Dubois,  and  Freelove  Holmes.  Josias  m.  Deborah 
Angevine.  Adolphus  m.  Abbey  Wright;  left  Jacob,  Daniel, 
Henry,  Deborah,  Lanesha,  Degrove,  and  Carlinda.  Nathaniel 
m.  Sally  Allen;  left  Joseph,  Deborah,  John,  William,  Jane 
Maria.  William  m.  Judith  Wood;  left  Adolphus  and  Alvira. 
Deborah  m.  Abraham  Wood;  left  Julia  Ann,  Benjamin  L., 
Perline,  Deborah,  Mary,  Jerome,  Mahlon,  John,  Freelove, 
Joseph  B.,  Sarah,  and  Joel  T.  Wright  m.  Maria  Flagler;  left 
Horace,  Mary,  Cordelia,  Eunice,  and  Dorcas.  Benjamin 
Jun.,  m.  Mary  Clark;  left  John,  Alfred,  Hannah  T.,  George, 
Emeline,  Morris,  Benjamin,  Mary  Louisa,  and  Jerome,  Sally 
m.  Peter  K.  Dubois;  left  Henry,  Koert,  Cornelius,  Egbert, 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Robert  and*  Sarah.  Freelove  m.  Joshua  W. 
Holmes;  left  Bradford,  Jane,  Sally  D.,  Irene,  Joseph  W., 
Benjamin  L.,  Mary,  Freelove  Ann,  and  George  W. 

HOLMES. — William  Holmes  m.  Phebe  Cromwell ;  left 
Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Isaac,  Benjamin,  Samuel,  Wheeler  C.,  Sally, 
Jemima,  and  Joshua  W.  Joseph  m.  Mary  Allen  ;  left  Phebe 
Pells,  Jane,  W'illiam,  Allen  J.,  John  C.,  Sally  Jemima  Wood. 


APPENDIX  B.  5OI 

Isaac  m.  Jemima  Peters  ;  left  William,  Hewlett  P.,  Mary  Ann 
Divine  (i),  Barton  (2),  George,  Rhoda  Mott,  Samuel,  Phebe 
jane,  Collins,  and  Hannah  Peters.  Wheeler  C.  m.  Phebe 
Allen  (r);  left  Sally  Maria,  Allen,  Nathaniel,  Joel  O.,  and 
William  C.  ;  m.  Betsey  Crawford  (2);  left  Mary,  Elizabeth, 
Phebe,  Isaac,  Freelove  Vandewater,  Andrew  J.,  Jemima,  Jesse 
and  Catherine.  Joshua  W.  m.  Freelove  Lattin — children's 
names  given  in  gen.  of  Lattin  family. 

HAYNES.* — Asa  Haynes  left  Wright,  Stephen,  Asa,  and 
Charles.  His  brother,  Caleb  Haynes,  m.  Sophia  Billings ;  left 
Sanford,  Caleb  2nd.,  Hannah  Keeler,  and  Lucy  Howard. 
Caleb  2nd,  m.  Deborah  Lewis ;  left  Andrew,  Sylvester,  Charles, 
James,  Chauncey,  William,  Peleg,  Sarah  Sheldon,  Lewis,  and 
Caleb  3d.  Lucy  m.  Thomas  Howard  ;  left  Thomas,  James, 
Patience,  Hannah  Gerow,  Laura,  Lucy  Gerow,  Sophia,  Jane. 
Andrew  m.  Phebe  Howard ;  left  Maria,  Richard,  Sarah,  William, 
Deborah,  Amy,  Belden,  Mary,  Garretson,  Jane.  Charles  m. 
Polly  Spaulding;  AlboA.,  Harriet  Waters,  Eliza  Cole.  James  m. 
Hannah  Sheldon ;  left  John,  Sheldon,  Jane,  Maria  Dodge, 
Susan  Baker,  Lydia  Baker,  Andrew  Jackson.  Sarah  m. 
Benjamin  Sheldon ;  left  Sylvester,  Henry,  Sylvia  Wanzer. 

*  Also  spelled  Haines,  and  originally  Hanes. 


INDEX. 


A. 

ABORIGINES,  17-22. 

Appalachian   Kanye.  '1G. 
Auienia,  Wi-131. 

I'rccinct  of,  49. 

Organization  of.  1M. 

Origin  of  Name,  My, 

Station.  109. 

Union,  110. 

South,  110. 

Manufacturing  Company,  128- 

Seminary.  I1.'!)  131. 

Early  officers.  12<). 

I.OK  Prison  at.  120. 
Andre's  Defense,  7O73. 
Army  Movements,  55j57. 
Anthony's  Nose,  57. 
Andre,  .Major,  fil   ('A. 
A«lams.  Elisha,  117 
Armstrong.  Hobcrt  (}..  119. 

Geneivl  John,  380-382. 
Asburv,  Bishop,  120. 
Athcrtmi,  Cornelius,  121. 
Apoqunqtic,  133. 

Preparative  Church  at.  130. 
Apple  Sauce  Hil!.  155. 
Allis  Pond,  156. 

David,  Anecdotes  of,  172. 
Army  Barracks,  181. 
Academy,  First  in  County,  185,  213.  369. 
Atiiic-k  by  Indians  and  Tories,  219-50. 
Anthony,  'I  heophilus,  S44. 
Anthony's  Mil1,  345. 
Antonides,  Yincentius,  55.")2. 
American  and  Foreign  liible  Society,  3.";4. 
Arbor  Vita;.  $>(>. 
Algates  tlie,  S99. 
Arnold,  Esq.,  Samuel.  415. 
Anecdote  of  Quick.  41.-). 
Agricultural  Society,  432. 
Anmmdale,  378. 
A  si  or,  John  Jacob,  382. 
Ancient  J>eed.  :J^4-5 
Appendix  1J,  472. 

502 


B. 


HOT  A  NY,  81 -W. 

BEEKMAN,  town  of,  132-143. 
Patent,  44.  388. 
Precii:ct,  49,  1>J2. 
Henry,  395,  417. 
Cemeterv,  142. 

Kockee,  Abraham.  117,  124. 

llaptist  Church*  s,  119,  135,  Ifi5,  211-13.  25  2-5 
293  5,  353-4,  385,  399,  408-12,  320-22,  1,30 
•447-50,  459-00. 

Benson,  Egbert,  122. 

Barlow,  Moses,  124. 
Isathan.  124 

Benton,  Caleb.  124. 

lioyd,  John,  125. 

Brnsh,  (ien.  John,  125. 

Bakers  the,  133. 

Brills  the,  133,  142. 
I    Barnards  the.  133. 
!    Br.bcock,  Kufus,  1).  1).,  13fi. 
I    Beldens  the,  157-8. 

Butts  Hollow,  158. 

liulls  Iron  Works,  161. 

Boerums  Tavern,  lt;4 

Branch  Preparative  Church,  1G8. 

P,arbecue,  172,  12«G. 

liale  tires,  Kevolutionary,  174. 

Brett,  Itoger,  177,  178. 

Buys.  John.  177. 

Briuckerhoffs  the,  184-5. 

Bailey's  Workshop,  Fi.slikill,  193. 

British  Cannonading,',  199. 

Barber,  Lieutenant-Col.,  killed,  200, 

Billing's,  Johu,  228. 

Bowinans  the.  237. 

Browns  the,  244. 

Bis  Cheese  the,  245 

Btittolphs  the,  24G,  256. 

Birdsall,  >athan,  258. 

Butler,  Timothy,  263. 

British  Troopers  taken, 266, 

Bethel,  302. 

Bailey,  John,  346. 


INDEX. 


5°3 


Brewsters.  Oilb--rt,  330. 
Uliio  1'oint,  363. 
Hats,  399. 
Bangall,  407-S 
Bare  Market.  408. 
Bullock.  Elder  Corner,  409. 

Richard.  409. 

Bui  tcli.  Elder  Lunian,  411 
Baker.  Nicholas,  418. 
Bloom  House  and  Mill.  430. 
Brick  Meeting  House.  430-2. 
Buckeye  Works,  369. 
Bridge",  I'oughkeepsie,  371. 
Barrytown,  375. 
Berry,  Jabez,  440. 

c. 

COUNTY  ORGANIZATION,  48-30. 

Carter,  "Vina."  20. 

Crom  Elbow  I'recinct,  49. 

Charlotte  Precinct,  49. 

Continental  Village,  56. 

Court  House,  102-103. 

Climate,  107. 

Conterence,  M.  E.,  120. 

Carpenters.  12-3. 

Chamberlains  family  of,  126. 

('line,  I'eter.  12(5. 

Cornwells  the.  133. 

Cast  Iron  Plow,  first,  128. 

Catholic  Churches,  136. 

Carv.  Ebenezer,  Dr.,  136. 

CLINTON,  144. 

Hon.  George,  144. 
Crom  Elbow  Creek,  144. 
Coopers  the,  14-3. 
Creek  Quaker  Church.  145,  416. 
Cookinghams  the,  147. 
Coons,  Peter,  157. 
Chastellux,  Marquis  de,  161. 
Cushman.  Blacksmith,  181. 
( 'ow-boy  Hung.  184. 
Committee  of  Observation,  188. 
Crosby,  Enoch,  (JO-1,  190.  196.  209,  447. 
Coetns,  211,  352. 
Conferentia.  211,  352. 
Crom  Elbow  Quaker  Church,  221-2. 
Clapp.  family  of,  227 
C  amp  Lot,  232. 
Clark,  Lieut. -Gov.,  240. 
Cupola  Furnace,  242. 
Culvers  the.  247-S. 
Cave  the,  249. 
Chirks  the,  249. 
Croton  River,  257. 
Cary,  Rev.    Henry,  259. 
Cobble  Hill,  289. 
Camp  Meetings.  296,  395. 
Cemetery.  Pawling,  296. 

Beekman,  142-3. 

Dover,  169. 

Pousdikeepsie,  354,  370. 
Court  Established  in  Duchess,  337. 
Colonial  Court  House,  338. 
Constitutional  Convention,  338. 
Court  House  Burned,  339. 
Clear  Everett  House,  342-3. 
Congress,  347. 

Collegiate  School  Building,  362-3. 
Crazy  '-(/in,"  400. 
Clark,  David,  412. 
Clove  Kil,  417. 
Crane,  Capt.  Joseph,  444-6. 
Christian  Church,  418. 
Cutler,  Joseph  M.,  418. 


,  Canoe  Hill,  428. 
!  Carpenter.  Franklin  T..  427. 
j   Carman.  Emanuel  and  Esther,  428. 
j   Cross?  Road>.  429. 
1  Cornstock,  Matthew,  430. 
1  Conglomerate  Mansion,  374—5. 
I  Cedar  Hill.  376. 
:  Cradle,  old.  400. 
Cotton  Factory,  Garner  <fc  Co.,  325. 
Carmel,  Town  of.  439-50. 

First  Settlement  in,  439. 

Kfd  Mills,  439,  441. 

Lake  Maliopac,  440. 

Village  of.  441. 

Granny  hill.  442. 

Places  in,  442-3 
Commissioners  of  Sequestration,  455. 


D. 

DUCHESS,  Spelling  of  Name,  15,  16. 
Attaclh  d  to  Ulster,  97. 
When  S.  tiled.  98. 
Described  in  1729.  101. 
Bill  to  Divide,  103. 

Deop  Hollow,  110. 
!  Duchess  Co.  Female  Bible  Society.  118. 

Delavergne,  Dr.  Benj.,  126. 
i  Dunham's  For«e,  127'. 
!  Delong,  133 
:  D,.ughty  Tavern,  140. 

DOVER,  149-173. 

Dutcher  family  of,  157-9. 
;  Dillon,  Mr.,  162. 
;  Dutch    Reformed    Churches,   167,  195,  207, 

222,349,  397,  400. 
I  Dongan,  Thomas.  176. 

DeBoys.  Peter,  177. 

Dewall,  Peche,  180 

"  Dodo,"  the,  183. 

Dudley's  Mills,  184. 

Devil's  Dance  Chamber.  203. 

Dutch  Stone  Church,  209. 

Dhupps,  the,  Tories  in  Revolution,  220. 

Delamater  Mill,  221. 

Dakins  the  243-4. 

Donovan  killed,  286. 

Dug-Way,  294. 

Dnbois,  Gualterus,  352. 

Deed  for  Church  at  Rhinebeck,  308. 

1  )'Hart's  War  Horse,  403-4. 


Digging  for  Money,  422. 
!    DeKoyen's  Cive,  378. 


Duchess  County  Alms  House,  432. 
Duchess  and  Columbia  Railroad.  434. 


E. 


EARLIEST  MENTION,  23-24. 

Executions,  104,  105,  355. 

Extracts  Church  Records,  115. 
Lossing,  224-5. 

Emmott,  James,  129. 
I  Episc  pal  Churches,  135,  196-7,  210,223,  384. 

Eversons  the,  144. 
!  Elihu,  Tabe,  156. 

Emighs  the.  1">S,  178. 
i  Elliotts  the,  160. 
i  Egglestons  the,  244-5. 

Encampments,  273,  405-6. 

Eastman's  Business  College,  367. 

1  ark,  370. 
i  Esopus  War,  373. 
!  East  Camp,  376. 
i  Enrollment  of  Quakers,  476-7. 


INC  EX. 


F. 

Familv  Genealogy.  497-002- 
Feudal  Laws,  43. 
Freclericksburph  Precinct.  49. 
FISIIK1LL,  town  of.  174-214. 

Precinct,  40. 

Mountains.  174. 

Hook.  Indians  at,  170. 
Fortifications.  50-58. 
Fort  Constitution,  58. 
Freeholders,  names  of.  100-1. 
French  Doctor's  Dam,  126. 
Freemanville,  135. 
Foss  Ore  Bed,  14!). 
First   white  child  born  in    Duchess  County 

I.-.S.  179. 
i-'ort  Hill.  176. 
FIontin.tr  Islands.  258. 
Ferris,  familv  of.  258 
Fields,  Pe  er'.  262. 
Friends'  Sufferings,  281-3. 
Filkintown.  423. 
Female  Academy.  309. 
Forty  Fourth  Ke.nimcnt,  95. 

G. 

GEOLOGY,  37-40 

Great  Nine  Partners.  43,  129,  4f>7. 

GENERAL  HISTORY.  97-108. 

Governor  and  Council.  107-8. 

Garrettson.  Rev.  Freeborn,  119,  392. 

Gardners  the.  133. 

Gardner  Hollow.  133. 

Guinea.  13">. 

Gillets  the.  157. 

<;rand  Sachem,  174. 

Glenham.  184. 

"Gore"  the,  223-4. 

Ghosts,  237.  2S5.  292. 

Green  Mountain  Lake,  258. 

Gallows  Tree,  285 -6. 

Grant,  Cato,  289. 

Grave  of  Soldier,  290. 

Geake,  Samuel,  348. 

German  Reformed  Church,  3.07. 


H. 

Hudson,  Henry.  23. 
Highland  Post  Koad,  55. 
Hemp.stead  Huts,  56. 
Huguenots,  9*. 
Herrick,  Heniamin,  117. 
Hyde,  Rev.  Eli,  118. 
Hessians,  122. 
Hunt's  Old  Stand,  129. 
llaxtun*.  l:>3. 
Hosreboom,  133. 
Hoau'.  the  Hobber,  134. 
Hioernia,  145. 
Ilutchinsons,  145. 
H. -,1s reads,  I4fi. 
Ilufcuts  tlie.  l-">7. 
Hiuby,  El<ler  Sc-th.  lf.7. 
Haunted  Houses,  172. 
Hospitals.  197-8. 
Hamilton,  letter  of,  201.    , 
Highlands,  description  of.  202. 
HYDE  PARK.  Town  of,  215-225 
HOLTS  Hills.  215. 
"  Hannah,"  227. 
Horse  Thieves,  Den  of,  229-30, 


flail  Storm.  23".. 

Hamblins  the,  24^. 

Hopkins.  Elder  Truman,  240. 

Ilollpys  the.  '248. 

Harringtons  tlie.  259. 

Hard  Winter  the.  2<>.". 

Hai-ies,  Caleb.  268-9. 

Flicksitp  Chnrc.h,  281. 

Hillar  Nathan.  281. 

Harrington,  trunsmith,  285. 

Hermits,  2S7.  288. 

Halcyon  Lake,  298,  313. 

Huddlestone.  M44. 

Holt,  John,  349. 

Half  Moon.  304. 

Horst  Ferry  li.,at.  300 

Hermance.  Hendriciis.  3S7. 

Hardenbui'Kli.  Dominie.  400, 

Heermance  House,  400, 

Hall.  Albert,  418 

Human  Bones.  420. 

Harts  Village,  423,  433. 

House  of  Industry.  3ti9. 

Hammer(own.319.323. 

Hudson  River  State  Hospital,  309. 

Hart,  »hilii),433. 


I. 

Iroquois,  17. 

Indian  Kattle,  19,  317. 

Indian  Geographical  Terms,  21-2. 

Iron  Works,  Dover.  149. 

ImVan  Orchards,  158.  183,  175,  180. 

Indian  !)•  ed.  170-7,  179,  387. 

Indian  Pond.  241.  312. 

Indian  Burial  Grounds,  288. 

Indian  Risiii".  394-5. 

Indian  Killed,  373. 

Incendiary  Fires,  297. 


Jail,  102-3. 
Jnrvis,  Samuel,  123. 
Johnsville,  180-1. 
Jonah's  Manor,  227. 
Jacksons  Corners,  230. 


K. 

Kittatiny  Mountains,  20. 
Knibloe,  Rev.  Ebenezcr,  115. 
Kent's  Parish,  115. 
Kenney.  Stephen,  117. 
King.  Samuel,  122. 
Knickerbackers,  140. 
Kenkiput,  Dr.,  158. 
Kidd,  ('apt..  204. 
Ketchams  the.  24G. 
Kiswell,  270-78. 
Kirby  House,  274-5. 
Kips  the,  387. 
Kipsburgh  Manor,  3,87. 
King  s  Highway,  398.  401- 
Kingston  Landing,  404. 
Kii:dcrhook,  410. 
Kent  Town  ot,  450-53. 

Early  Settlement  of,  451. 

County  Poor  House,  452. 
I  Kidd,  Capt.,454. 


INDEX. 


5°5 


L. 

Little  Nine  Partners,  44,  251. 

Livingston  Manor,  46,  48,  317. 

Lexington,  Battle  of,  51. 

Loudon,  Lord,  55. 

Lossing,  Benson  J.,  133. 

Long  Pond,  144. 

Leroy's  Corners,  147. 

Lossings  the,  158. 

Lathrop,  Julia  A.,  167. 

Lloyd's  Hills,  215. 

LA  GRANGE,  226-235. 

Lafayettevllle,  236. 

Leaseholds,  240. 

Leland,  Elder  John,  245,  312. 

LaFayette's  Headquarters,  279. 

LaFayette,  279,  280,  358-61. 

Lake  House,  289. 

Lawrence,  Elder  John,  2S3. 

Log  Church,  296. 

Legislature  in  Poughkeepsie,  340-41,  346. 

Livingston  Mansion,  340. 

Family  of,  351,  346,  389,  392,  396,  377. 
Launching  Frigates  at  Poughkeepsie,  347-8. 
Loudon,  Samuel,  349. 
Locust  Grove,  363. 
Landman's  Kill,  387. 
Lamoree  House,  405. 
Lewis,  Gov.  Morgan,  405. 
Little  Rest,  Origin  of  Name,  423-4. 
Lasher  House.  318. 
Letter  detailing  villainy  of  Arnold,  67-70. 

M. 

Minnissinks,  18. 

Mohegans,  19. 

Mauweehu,  19,  155-6. 

Mincees,  21. 

Matteawan  Mountains,  25. 

Mineralogy.  27. 

MILITARY   HISTORY.  51-96. 

Militia  called  out,  54. 

Moravians,  112. 

M.  E.  Churches,  119,  136,  143,  168,  210,  228, 

239,  295,  396. 
Molasses  Hill,  155. 
Madam  Brett's  Mill,  178. 
Morehouse  Tavern,  160. 
Mistake  Turnpike,  173. 
Madam  Brett,  181. 
Manchester  Hotel,  226. 
Moreys  Corners,  227. 
Moore's  Mills,  228. 
MILAN,  town  of,  236-240. 
Millerton,  242. 

Murder  of  Pedlar  at  Spencers  Corners,  250-1- 
Moravian  Mission,  240,  256,  300. 
Marshall.  Zachary,  265. 
Murder  of  Nathan  Pearce ,  271. 
Montgomery  the,  (Al. 
Meinema,  Rev.  Benjamin,  352. 
Montgomery,  Gen'l  Richard,  389-91,379-80, 

397,  401-2. 
Marvin  Shot,  414. 
Montgomery  Place,  378-9. 
Madalin,  382. 
Montross,  317. 
Major  Andre,  87,  88. 


N. 


Nanticokes,  21. 
North  Precinct,  49. 


Northeast  Precinct,  49, 

Nase,  Henry,  112,  123. 

"  Nook"  the,  113. 

New  Lights.  113. 

Nott,  Kev.  Sam'1,  118. 

Nine  Partners  Load  Mines,  121. 

North,  Selah.  129. 

N<  xons  the.  133, 142. 

Noxon  Meadow,  135. 

Ninham,  David.  175. 
,  New  Hackensack,  183,  353. 
I  "  Nanna,"  199-20(1. 
!   NORTHEAST,  town  of,  241-250. 
I  Nichols,  Lieutenant,  267-8. 
j  Navy  Yard—  Poughkeej  sie.  347. 

New  Hamburgh,  '365. 

Noble  Town,  410. 

Negro  Hung,  415. 

Nine  Partners  Hoarding  School,  426-8. 

New  burgh  Letters,  381. 

Newcomb,  Tory,  327. 

o. 

Oblong,  44-6. 

Osborne,  Rev.  Joel,  114. 

Oldest  House  in  Dover,  159. 

Old  Forge,  171. 

Old  Beacon,  174. 

"Oven,"  the  249. 

Oblong  Pond,  258.  2€8. 

Old  Day  Book,  432. 

Old  Red  Church,  382-3. 

Oblong  Meeting,  280. 

Old  Church,  Quaker  Hill,  281,  283-5. 

Oswego,  421. 

Old  Ladies'  Home,  369. 

Opera  House,  Collingwood,  371. 

One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Regiment,  95-6. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-eighth  Regt,  92-5. 

P. 

PREFACE,  7-9. 

Powder  thrown  in  Swamp,  270. 

Prosser,  Doctor,  293. 

Pawling  Riot,  297. 

PINE  PLAINS,  town  of,  298-323. 

Passage  on  Steamboats,  364. 

Post  Road,  398,  258. 

Port  Holes  in  Dwellings,  401. 

Pond  Gut,  416. 

Pedlar  Disappeared,  419. 

Pine  Plains  Village,  322. 

Peauods.  19,  112,  155. 

Patents,  41-47. 

PoughKeepsie  Patent,  43. 

Philipse  Patent, 43. 

Patrons,  43. 

Precincts,  48-50. 

Philipse  Precinct.  49. 

Pledge  Revolutionary,  52. 

Signers  of,  53-54,  481-95. 
Putnam,  General,  55. 
Parsons,  General,  55. 
Patterson  Compact,  56. 
Pawling,  Camp  at,  56. 
Pollopels  Island,  boom  at,  58. 
Patterson  Village,  99. 
Pendergraft  tried,  100. 
Provincial  Congress,  102. 
Paine  Abraham,  118. 
Presbyterians,    113-115,   209,    229,  321,  326, 

328-9,  331,  458-9. 
Paine,  Ephraim,  121. 


506 


INDEX. 


Potter,  Right  Kev.  Alonzo,  133. 
Poughquag  Tavern,  142. 
1'arks  the,  145. 
Porters  the,  145. 
Preston,  Martin,  156. 

Mountain,  156. 

Mill.  170. 

Captain,  173. 
Prime,  Casper,  177. 
Plow-share,  anecdote  of,  179-80 
Printing  Press  at  Fishkill,  192-3. 
Petition  for  church  at  Fish  Creok,  206-7. 
Pevey,  Elder,  228. 
Potter  s  Corners,  228,  233. 
PAWLING,  Town  of,  257. 
Purgatory  Hill,  257,  273,  290. 
PLEASANT  VALLEV.  Town  of,  324-331. 
POUGHKEEI'SIE,  town  and  city  of,  332-71. 

Different  ways  of  spelling,  332. 

Indian  Legend,  333-4. 

Early  settlement  of,  33C. 
Patterson,  Town  of,  453-62. 
Philipstown,  Town  of.  462-7. 
Putnam  Valley.  Town  of,  467-8. 

Q. 

Quitrents,  42. 

Quaker  Churches,  239,  331.  412. 

Quaker  Hill,  279. 

Quaker  City,  421. 

R. 

Kombout  Patent,  43. 

Khinebeck  Patent,  44. 

Kombout  Precinct,  49. 

Khinebeck  Precinct,  49. 

Khinebeck  Flats,  British  burned,  57. 

Robinson  House,  59.  62. 

Rioters,  99. 

Rebellion  in  Duchess,  100. 

Rows  the,  111. 

Khinke.  Abraham,  112. 

Red  Meeting  House,  113,  166. 

Round  Top  Meeting  House,  114, 

Rodgers,  Dr.  John,  115. 

Round  Top  School  House,  120. 

Robberv  of  Philip  Nase.  123. 

Robbery-  of  David  Collin,  123. 

Redemptioners,  126. 

Reisoners,  133. 

Round  Pond,  144. 

Rachel,  156. 

Kombout,  Francis,  176,  177. 

Rombout  Patent.  176. 

Records,  Beekmaii,  137-139. 

Records,  Fishkill,  184. 

Records,  Hyde  Park,  215  16. 

Records,  Northeast,  242-3. 

Records,  Pine  Plains,  299-300. 

Revolutionary  Skirmish  at  Hyde  Park,  219. 

KoeliffJansens  Kill.  236. 

Rock  City,  236. 

Rowe.  Johannes,  236. 

Round  Pond,  241. 

Kudds  Pond,  241. 

Rudds  the,  244. 

Kogiment  of  Militia  in  1693,  475-6. 

Regimental  Officers  of  the  Revolution,  477-81. 

Robbery  on  Quaker  Hill,  269-70. 

Kobber"Kocks,286. 

It   elitf  Jansens  Kill,  298. 

Ranch,  Christian  Henry,  301. 

Kibel  Slaves,  346. 


!  Rysdyck,  Rev.  Isaac,  352. 
Ruger,  Col.,  3 59. 
Race  Course,  366-7. 
KHINEBECK,  386-406. 
Rhinebeck  Kil,  386. 
Rhinebeck  Precinct,  386. 
Rhinebeck  Flats,  388. 
RED  HOOK,  372-385. 
Rokeby,  380. 

Robinson,  Beverly,  59, 455. 
Revolutionary  Documents,  73-81. 


Sepascoots,  18. 

Schaghticokes,  19,  155, 158. 

Shenandoahs,  21. 

Schuylers  Patent,  43. 

South  Precinct,  49. 

Southeast  Precinct,  49. 

Schencks  the,  59,  214, 

St.  Philip's  Chapel,  59. 

Semi-Annual  Fairs,  103. 

Supervisors,  Meeting  of,  103-104. 

Sharon  Canal,  106-107. 

Soil,  107. 

Sharon  Station,  110. 

Sackett,  Rfchard,  110-111. 

Steel  Works,  110,  128. 

Separatists,  113. 

Stuithfield  Church,  116-119. 

Separate  Meeting  House,  117. 

Slaves,  127. 

Sweets,  133,  145. 

Store,  Poughquag,  133. 

Shultz  Mountains,  144. 

Sippe  Barrack,  144. 

Shultzsville,  146. 

Slate  Quarry,  147. 

Sleight*  the,  147,  233-5. 

Swamp  River,  149,  257. 

Stone  Church,  Dover,  150-164. 

Squaw  Blankets,  156. 

Sharparoon  Pond,  173. 

Springstead,  Yowreb,  177. 

JSwartwouts  the,  181,  182,  214. 

Sprout,  Peter,  184. 

Schuti,  Catherine,  185. 

Soldiers  Cemetery,  189,  190. 

Smith,  Joshua  Hett,  62,  194. 

Soldiers  Spring,  194-5. 

Schuyler,  Gen'l,  Trial  of,  275-9. 

Souse  Hole,  290. 

Shekomeko  Creek,  298. 

Shabash,  302. 

State  Fair  at  Poughkeepsie,  362. 

Sloop  Edward,  364. 

Sepasco,  Lake,  386. 

State  Prison,  388. 

Scott,  Elder  Robert,  399,  411. 

Starr  Institute,  404. 

Supervisors,  406. 

STANFORD,  407-16. 

Skidmore,  James,  418. 

Simpson,  Caleb,  419. 

Simpson  Hill,  419. 

Sergeant  Cassedy's   Ill-treatment  at  Nine 

Partners,  424-6. 
Swift's  Lowlands,  430. 
St.  Barnabas   Hospital,  369. 
State  Hospital,  369. 
Soldiers'  Fountain,  370, 
Store  House  Burned,  376. 
Soldier's  Monument,  384. 
Shekomeko  Mission,  300-316. 
Spangenberg,  311. 


INDEX. 


Stissing  Mountain,  322-3. 

Southeast,  town  of,  468-71. 

Spront  Creek,  226. 

Soldiers  imprisoned  in  Stone  Church, 

Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  IDS-  . 

Steuben,  Baron,  205. 

Stoutenburgh,  Jacobus.  217. 

Stoutenbnrgh  family,  217-18. 

Staatsburgh,  221. 

Straw  Hudson,  237. 

Shekomeko  Creek,  241. 

Slawson  Tavern,  251. 

Spencers  Corners,  251. 

Shaw,  Comfort,  262. 

Starks  the,  262. 

Slocnm,  Abraham,  265. 


T. 

TOPOGRAPHY,  25-26. 

Taghkanick  Mountains,  25,  27. 

Tories,  54.  55, 126,  260-2,  263-4,  266-73,   326 

283-4,  345-6,  348,  416. 
Travel  and  Post  Routes,  105-106. 
The  City,  110. 
Tithingmen,  115. 
Ten  Mile  River,  149. 
Teller,  Andrew,  177. 
Terboss,  John,  177,  214. 
Teller  House,  187. 
Tiger  or  Panther,  200. 
Titns  Factory,  229. 
Tory  Cavern,  268. 
Toffey  Burial  Ground,  273,  2S7. 
Tom  Howard's  Tavern,  291. 
Thatcher.  Rev.  Mr.,  295. 
Tschoop,  302-4. 
Thorn,  Sheriff,  355. 
Thunder  Storm,  361-2. 
Thompson,  Smith,  407. 
Tivoli,  374. 


U. 

Uhls,  133. 

Union  Churches,  322. 
Unknown  Man  Killed,  287-8. 
Upton,  Paul,  412-14. 
UNION  VALE,  417. 

Early  Residents  of,  417. 
Union  Meeting  House,  417-18, 


V. 

Vanghan,  Gen.,  58,  218-19,  345,  377. 
Vincent,  ESQ.,  Anecdotes  of,  134. 
Vanderburgh  Mansion,  140. 
Vanderburgh,  Col.,  141. 
Vanderburgh,  "Lud.,'  141. 
Van  Buren,  President,  165. 
Valley  View  Cemetery,  169. 
VanCortland,  Stejrhanns,  176. 
Verplanck,  Henrietta,  177. 
Village  of  Dover,  early,  157. 
Verplanck,  Gulian,  176,  214. 
VanWyck.  Theo.,  anecdote,  180, '- II. 
VanVlacks  the,  183. 
VarWyck,  Sidney  E  ,  191. 
VerPlanck  House,  198. 
VanAlst,  Burgune,  205. 
Vaughn,  Wait,  266-7,  271-3. 
Vaughns  Keck,  267 


;  VanKleeck  Ilonsc,  340-1. 
Von  Beck  House.  344. 
YanKletck.  Baltus.  -J>41. 
Y;t!-,  Rev.  Peter.  ;>i9. 
VanSchie,  Rev.  Cornelius,  352. 
Vassar  College.  367 
V.niBoojrh,  Catherine,  389. 
Yertmnk  Station,  420-21. 


w. 

Wiccopees,  IS. 

Waoranacks,  18,  21. 

Wappingers,  18. 

Water  Lots.  4-3. 

Wiccopee  Pass,  57,  175. 

West  1  oint  Boom  at,  57. 

Washington, Gen.,  62,  194. 

Washington,  Gen.,  Love  Affair,  <]«,  64. 

Wartmmaug,  19. 

Weebutook,  109-110. 

Wassaic  Creek,  110. 

West  Brook,  110. 

Willsou,  Robert,  117. 

Wood,  Elder  Elijah,  113. 

Whitfleld,  Kev.  George,  117. 

Wardwell,  Capt.  Allen,  119. 

Wakely,  Dr.,  119. 

Wells,  Dover,  154. 

Wampee,  John,  156. 

Waldo,  Elder  Samuel,  159, 160. 

Washington's  Camp  at  Dover,  159. 

Wyoming  Refugees,  163. 

Weaver  Mountain,  tradition  of,  171. 

Wappingers  Creek,  175,  226. 

Wiltwyck,  179. 

Wood,  Joseph,  181. 

Wild  Beasts,  night  attack  of,  181,  265. 

'Wharton  House,  189, 191-2. 

Washington's  Sword,  193. 

Washington's  Headquarters,  204-5, 218, 27S-4 

Witchcraft,  231-2,  238,  292. 

Witch  Doctors,  238-9,  293- 

Winchells  the,  243. 

Whaley  Pond,  186,  257. 

Whipping  Post,  264. 

Wing,  Jonathan,  281. 

Woolman,  286. 

Watching  with  Corpse,  291. 

Wood,  Jesse,  Hung,  354-5. 

Whale  Dock,  365. 

Wounded  British  Soldier,  394. 

Wood,  Elder  Jabez,  409. 

WASHINGTON.  423-434. 

Early  Residents  in,  429. 
Willetts,  Jacob,  427. 

Widow  of,  427. 
West  Camp,  376. 
Wechquadnack,  312. 
WAWUNGER,  town  of,  435. 


Y. 


Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  368. 
Yonkhonce,  Henry,  317. 


ZOOLOGY,  27,40. 
Zinzendorff,  Count,  308. 


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